Many people do not realise this. You may see yourself as a parent, partner, sibling, grandparent, or friend who is simply “helping out” someone with a disability, a mental or physical illness, an aged and frail family member, or a child in kinship or foster care. Yet if you provide unpaid support for them with daily routines such as cooking, cleaning, personal care, transport to appointments, medication management, or help with communication and finances, you are, in fact, a carer. Even if you don’t use that word yourself, that is exactly what you are.
Caring involves patience, resilience, and love. It’s the quiet strength that allows someone else to navigate their everyday life. But it can also be isolating. In Canberra, carers are 50% more likely to feel lonely than the general community. That’s why recognising your role matters – because with recognition comes support.
Walking Beside Carers
At Carers ACT, we see the vital role you play. We are here to walk alongside you, so you can continue caring while also looking after your own wellbeing.
Through Carer Gateway, carers can access personalised counselling and coaching, peer support groups, online learning, and practical help with everyday needs. Planned and emergency respite is also available, as well as tailored supports such as transport, cooking, cleaning, and education programs.
Beyond Carer Gateway, Carers ACT offers a broad range of services designed to support you in your caring role. This includes flexible respite options outside the Gateway, such as in-home support and short-term overnight, weekend and day cottage stays in homely settings. For NDIS participants, our Support Coordination team works with you to understand your plan, connect with the right services, and make informed choices about your goals.
We also run specialised programs, including The Hub, a weekday program for adults with mild to moderate cognitive disability offering social and skill-building activities. The Staying at Home Dementia Program provides carers with practical training and support, while the person being cared for takes part in meaningful reminiscence activities. The Carer Gateway Young Carers Program supports carers aged 25 and under with tailored services and education assistance to balance school, work and caring responsibilities.
To stay connected, carers can join our Wellbeing Programs, which include workshops, learning opportunities and social events designed to support mental, emotional, physical and financial health. Our Policy and Advocacy Team ensures carers’ voices are heard in shaping better laws, systems and services, while Mental Health Carers Voice amplifies the lived experiences of carers to improve the mental health system. We also support Kinship and Foster Carers through an interactive resource hub, and provide culturally safe spaces for carers from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to connect and share.
Carers ACT is more than a service provider. We are a strong advocate for carers at every level, ensuring your experiences influence the policies and systems that impact your daily life.
Together, We Share the Care
Carers ACT is a community that recognises, supports, and values carers. When carers are supported, the people they care for thrive too.
So, if you’ve ever wondered, “Am I a carer?” – the answer might be yes. And if so, you don’t have to walk this journey alone.
📞 02 6296 9900 | 📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.carersact.org.au
📞 Carer Gateway – 1800 422 737 | 🌐 www.carergateway.gov.au