National Carers Week Awareness

It is National Carers Week, and these many unsung and often silent heroes deserve our support and recognition. In 2022, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers, estimated that Australia had 3 million people (12% of the population) in an informal and unpaid role, often aged over 50 years and looking after a family member. At the same time, in 2023, the ABS estimated there are appriximately 460,000 professional carers. During my work along the journey of recovery that clients or patients take in addressing their mental challenges, we should not fail to acknowledge the outstanding work all carers perform in supporting and maintaining clients/patients' wellbeing. For family and other close friends, being an unpaid career is rarely something they train for or expect; it often just develops over time and can often become a full-time activity. Whether they are a professioinal carer or an unpaid family carer, their tireless work can often have a fundamental impact on their feelings, thoughts, attitudes, emotions, and behaviours to the point where, without appropriate self-care, they become exhausted, frustrated, and lonely, seeing no end in sight, with no personal space or freedom to recharge batteries. This is the week where we are celebrating all carers, who deserve our congratulations for the outstanding work they do; it is truly valued. I have had the opportunity to meet and work with wonderful carers who selflessly dedicate time and their own emotional strength to helping others in need. Recovery is a team effort to enhance the wellbeing of others. By helping those in need, being available, caring, and empathetic, or simply putting a smile on the dial of a carer in troubled times, can mean the world to them. Once again, let's all give our congratulations to every carer and support them wherever we can.