The value of unpaid welfare services provided in households was
$28.8 billion in 2000-01, according to the Australian Institute of
Health and Welfare's biennial report on the nation's welfare
services, released today.
This was over double the $13.7 billion spent annually on paid
services in the welfare sector in Australia.
The $28.8 billion covers informal assistance, mostly by family
and friends, in caring for other people's children, one's own sick
children, people with a disability and frail older people.
The report, Australia's Welfare 2003, reveals that
about 2.5 million people provided unpaid care to people with a
disability and frail older people in 2002. Of these about 491,000
were defined as primary carers-carers who are the main providers of
assistance to people with self-care, mobility and communication
difficulties.
The full-time equivalent workforce providing informal care was
estimated at 985,000 in 2000-01, or about five times the size of
the paid workforce in the community services industry.
AIHW Welfare Division Head Dr Diane Gibson said that for many
people, taking on the caring role was 'a natural expression of
their relationship with a family member or friend in a time of
need'.
'But we would be placing our heads in the sand if we did not
admit that while caring can be very rewarding, the role can also
impose a considerable burden', Dr Gibson said.
'Many carers are also juggling paid work and caring
responsibilities-one in three female carers are in the paid work
force.'
People are already supported in their caring role through both
financial and other forms of assistance (e.g. respite care)
provided by governments and non-government organisations.
Dr Gibson said, however, that in order for Australians to meet
one another's welfare needs in the future, a stronger evidence base
was required that painted a more complete picture of the varied
needs and circumstances of carers and care recipients.
'So many things are changing in our society, all of which can
affect the need for and provision of informal care. Women are more
likely to work, people marry later, and have fewer children later.
Blended families are more common, and families are more mobile. And
the ageing experience is changing-retirement used to mean that you
went from full-time paid work to not working at all, but the
division is becoming more blurred, with high rates of part-time
employment and self-employment, both before and after traditional
retirement age.'
'Support for carers that aligns with these changes and
individual needs will help maintain the in-home care people
generally prefer, while avoiding unnecessary increases in the
number of formal paid services.'
4 December 2003
Further information: Dr Diane Gibson, 02 6244
1190 (w); 0409 466 058 (mobile)
General media enquiries and media summary
notes:
Nigel Harding, 02 6244 1025 (w); 0409 307 671 (mobile)
OR: Michelle Wells, 02 6244 1012 (w), 0407 012 520/0407 483 411
(mobile)
Availability: Check the AIHW
Publications Catalogue for details.