National Carers Week 2026: Making Carers Visible

From 11 to 17 October 2026, National Carers Week shines a spotlight on these everyday heroes, recognising the enormous contribution they make to individuals, families, communities, and the broader health and aged care system. This year's theme, Care for a carer: Making carers visible, encourages Australians to acknowledge, support, and care for the caregivers in their families, workplaces, and communities.  

The Invisible Workforce Behind Australia's Care System 

Many carers do not identify themselves as carers. They simply see themselves as spouses, adult children, siblings, parents, partners, friends, or neighbours doing what needs to be done. Yet caring can be physically, emotionally, and financially demanding. Balancing care responsibilities alongside work, family commitments, and personal wellbeing is something many carers navigate every day. National Carers Week provides an opportunity to recognise these contributions and remind carers that their wellbeing matters too. 

Caring for Caregivers 

When you're focused on supporting someone else, it's easy to overlook your own needs. However, planning ahead and ensuring support is available during unexpected situations is an important part of sustainable caregiving. One practical step every informal carer should consider is creating an Emergency Care Plan. 

What is an Emergency Care Plan? 

An Emergency Care Plan is a centralised document that contains essential information about the person you care for. Its purpose is simple: if you suddenly become ill, injured, or otherwise unable to provide care, someone else can quickly and safely step in. Having a plan in place can provide peace of mind for both carers and care recipients, ensuring continuity of care when it is needed most. The official Carer Gateway Emergency Care Plan template helps carers consolidate all the practical information required for an emergency handover. You can download the template here. 

What Should an Emergency Care Plan Include? 

Personal details including the care recipient’s: 

• Name and age 
• Address 
• Primary language spoken 
• Medical condition, illness, or disability 
• Any important personal information relevant to their care 

Emergency contacts: 

• Family members 
• Friends and neighbours who can assist 
• Legal decision makers such as a Guardian or Power of Attorney 

Care and dietary requirements:  

• Daily routines 
• Personal care needs 
• Level of support required 
• Food and drink preferences 
• Dietary restrictions 

Medical information and medications: 

• Current medications, dosages, and schedules 
• Medical history 
• Doctor and specialist contact details 
• Pharmacy information 
• Relevant health service contacts 

Support services: 

• Home care providers 
• Community support services 
• Allied health professionals 
• Upcoming appointments 

Carer emergency card: 

• The Emergency Care Plan includes a wallet-sized emergency card that carers can carry with them
• This card alerts emergency personnel that someone at home depends on their care and may need immediate assistance if the carer becomes incapacitated 

This National Carers Week 

As we celebrate National Carers Week 2026, let's recognise the unpaid carers who make such a significant difference every day. Ask how they're doing. Offer practical support. Encourage them to take a break. Help them put an Emergency Care Plan in place. Because caring for carers is everyone's responsibility. For additional information, downloadable resources, and ideas for supporting carers in your workplace or community, visit the National Carers Week resource hub. 

Let us do The Caring so You Can Focus on Living 

At Right at Home, we understand that caring for a loved one can be one of life's most rewarding experiences, but it can also be one of the most demanding. Our team of trained and qualified care professionals provides a wide range of services, including personal care, domestic assistance, nursing, companionship, disability support, dementia care, respite care, and more. Whether you need support for a few hours, overnight assistance, emergency care, or ongoing services, we're here to help. By partnering with trusted care professionals, family carers can take time to rest, recharge, attend appointments, focus on work and family commitments, and prioritise their own wellbeing with confidence. 

If you or someone you know provides care for a loved one, Right at Home can help with flexible, professional support tailored to your family's needs. 

Right at Home Australia is a leading provider of quality in-home care. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for those we serve ensuring the Right Care, Right at Home™. We support people living with complex and post-operative care needs, dementia and cognitive decline, older Australians, and adults living with a disability including NDIS participants. Our tailored services help clients to remain safe and independent in their homes. We are an Approved Provider under the Aged Care Act, meaning we can provide government-funded support at home. We also offer private care for those who do not have government funding or who wish to pay privately for top-up care. Right at Home is all about you. We are available 24/7 so contact your local office today. You can also call our national number on 1300 363 802. 

This information is general in nature and does not constitute medical, legal, or financial advice. Please seek appropriate professional advice for your individual circumstances. Services are subject to availability and individual eligibility, including applicable funding criteria. Any examples or case studies are illustrative only. Individual experiences and outcomes may vary. Services are delivered by independently owned and operated franchisees under a franchise agreement with Homecare Group Pty Ltd. Experiences may vary by location. To the extent permitted by law, we exclude liability for reliance on this information. Nothing in this material excludes or limits your rights under Australian Consumer Law.

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