First Nations carers provide critical care to families and communities, yet are often unrecognised and unsupported. AH&MRC’s new Carer Recognition Project Pilot is working with ACCHOs to change this.
This new initiative is designed to help ACCHOs better identify, recognise and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers before they reach burnout.
Caring for family, Elders and kin has always been part of cultural and community responsibility, yet the scale and impact of this care is frequently underestimated.
The National Carers Survey 2024 highlights the intensity of this role. Three quarters of First Nations carers provide more than 60 hours of care per week, 59% care for more than one person, and 60.2% experience high or very high psychological distress (1). These figures emphasise the urgent need for health services to better identify, recognise and support carers earlier.
In response, AH&MRC is delivering the Carer Recognition Project Pilot, working alongside ACCHOs to build culturally strong training for frontline staff, co-design education and resources with community, introduce referral pathways, and develop community-specific carer stories to display in our services.
Early identification of carers enables services to strengthen continuity of care, improve treatment compliance and health outcomes, reduce stress and burnout, and support Medicare co-claiming opportunities. Most importantly, it ensures carers receive help without shame, barriers or confusion.
AH&MRC is currently seeking ACCHOs interested in piloting this training at their site. If you would like further information on the Carer Recognition Project coming to your ACCHO, please contact clowcock@ahmrc.org.au.
A carer is anyone who supports a family member or friend living with a disability, health condition, mental illness or who is older or ageing. For many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, caring often includes helping extended family and kin – like aunties, uncles, cousins, Elders and others in the community – as part of strong cultural and family responsibilities. – Carers NSW
References:
1. Carers NSW. (2025). First Nations Carers in the National Carer Survey: 2024 survey findings.
