4430.0 - Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia: Summary of Findings, 2015 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 18/10/2016   
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A PROFILE OF CARERS IN AUSTRALIA

Image: A profile of carers in Australia

Informal carers make a significant contribution to the lives of others. Caring can be very rewarding, however the time taken to care can impact on a carer’s ability to work and their opportunities to study and participate in the community.

The results of the 2015 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers provide a profile of carers in Australia.

  • 2.7 million Australians provided informal care in 2015
  • 272,000 carers were under the age of 25, this equates to around 1 in 10
  • Around 856,000 Australians were a primary carer — the carer who provided the most assistance to a person with disability
  • Almost all (96%) of primary carers cared for a family member
  • The average age of a primary carer was 55
  • More than two thirds of primary carers were female
  • More than half (55%) of primary carers provided care for at least 20 hours per week
  • 56% of primary carers participated in the workforce*, compared to 80% of non-carers
  • The weekly median income* of a primary carer was $520, which was 42% lower than non-carers

*Labour force and income figures are for persons aged between 15 and 64 living in households.

Further information is available in Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia: Summary of Findings, 2015 (cat. no. 4430.0) available from the ABS website (www.abs.gov.au).

A pdf version of the information sheet is available from the Downloads tab of this publication.