Nearly half a million people in Australia see themselves as
'primary carers', providing unpaid assistance to others with a
severe or profound level of disability, according to a report
released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
(AIHW).
Carers in Australia: assisting frail older people and people
with a disability shows that in 1998, 70% of 490,000 primary
carers were women, with females aged between 35 and 64 years making
up nearly half (47%) of the total number.
AIHW report author Ms Cathy Hales says that although fewer men
are primary carers, men and women are more equally represented at
ages 75 years and over.
'We also see the impact of close family relationships on carer
arrangements with nearly half (43%) of all primary carers looking
after a spouse or partner, 25% caring for a parent and 21% caring
for a son or daughter with a disability, with the remainder caring
for another relative or friend.'
One in two primary carers are spending 20 hours per week or more
providing care, with 1 in 3 providing over 40 hours of care per
week, and this has a considerable impact on their ability to carry
out paid employment, says Ms Hales.
'Labour force participation rates are substantially lower among
primary carers of working age, with less than half being in paid
employment as well as undertaking their caring role. Only 22% were
in full-time paid work in 1998.'
In terms of future trends, says Ms Hales, an ageing population
means there is likely to be an increase in those people who need
assistance from just over 1 million in 1998 to 1.4 million by
2013.
The report looks at four possible scenarios relating to the
potential number of primary carers available up to 2013.
'The most optimistic outlook is that we have over 600,000
primary carers by 2013. The ageing of the baby boomer generation
will see large numbers of women moving into traditional primary
carer age groups during this period. This growth will offset the
decrease in the number of carers associated with higher rates of
female workforce participation.
'On the other hand,' says Ms Hales, 'in the worst case scenario,
we could witness a reduction in the number of people willing to
become primary carers. This in turn could have a significant impact
on the demand for services provided by government and
non-government organisations.'
In any case, meeting the needs of growing numbers of carers who
may be juggling multiple caring responsibilities as well as paid
work is likely to require the focused attention of families,
communities, employers and government in the years ahead.
28 October 2004
Further information: Ms Cathy Hales, AIHW, tel.
02 6244 1258 or mobile 0407 915 851
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW, tel. 02 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for availability of Carers in Australia:
assisting frail older people and people with a disability,
October 2004.