National Carers Week 2017 (October 15-21) is a time to recognise and celebrate the outstanding contribution that Australia’s 2.7 million unpaid carers make to our nation.

One in eight Australians provide unpaid care and support to a family member or friend with a disability, mental illness, chronic condition, terminal illness or who is frail aged. 

Carers make an enormous contribution to our communities as well as our national economy and National Carers Week provides you with a chance to show your appreciation.

Carers provide 1.9 billion hours of unpaid care annually. The annual replacement value of that care (the cost were it provide by paid care workers) is estimated at $60.3 billion – over $1 billion per week.

Yet the weekly median income of primary carers aged 15 to 64 is 42pc lower than that of non-carers.

Visit the National Carers Week website at www.carersweek.com.au and take a couple of minutes to ‘Say Thanks’ to unpaid carers, showing your support to help build a carer-friendly Australia. 

By doing so, you can help us demonstrate the considerable community support for Australia’s carers.

You can also help raise awareness by rounding up workmates, friends and family for a National Carers Week event, drawing attention to who carers are, what they do and how they can access services and supports.

Organise a morning or afternoon tea, fundraiser or workshop to raise awareness of the diversity of carers and the roles they perform, and take advantage of the opportunity to inform friends and colleagues of the support services available to carers.

Visit www.carersweek.com.au for more information on how you can say thanks and get involved in National Carers Week! 

You can also notify people of your own National Carers Week event and help spread the word through your social media channels by using the hashtags #Carers2017 and #carerscount

Ara Cresswell is the chief executive officer of Carers Australia, the national peak body representing carers to influence policy and services.