The Fair Work Ombudsman uses the definition in the Carer Recognition Act 2010. A carer is someone who provides personal care, support and assistance to another person who needs it because they:
have a disability
have a medical condition, including a terminal or chronic illness
have a mental illness, or
are frail and aged.
Caring can look very different from one person to the next:
Carers of ageing parents juggling appointments, care decisions and, often, a slow increase in responsibility over time.
Parents of children with disability or chronic illness may be caring for many years, with needs that change as their child grows.
Partners and spouses may become carers suddenly after an illness, injury or diagnosis.
Mental health carers supporting someone through needs that can be unpredictable and are often invisible to others.
"Sandwich" carers look after children and ageing parents at the same time.
Having been a carer myself, I know first-hand how hard it can be to keep a career going while caring for someone you love. In addition, I’ve seen how easily burnout sets in when caring isn’t recognised at work. It’s a big part of why I do this work.
I help leaders build the skills and confidence to have supportive conversations with carers, recognise what they need and find flexible ways of working. I also coach employees through the challenges that juggling a career and caring can bring.
If you'd like to talk about supporting the carers in your organisation, please get in touch.