Help us guarantee super for Australia's unpaid carers: Cost of Caring
Help us guarantee super for Australia's unpaid carers: Cost of Caring
The issue
Australia’s unpaid carers are in crisis, and it’s time to do something about it.
When a family member or close friend falls ill, who steps in to help?
Primary carers. But there's a massive problem: seven in 10* of these primary carers are women, and they're not paid superannuation.
Over time, this deficit adds up. Big time. Enough to make or break you in later life. Putting others first shouldn’t put you out of home. Providing for others shouldn’t take the food from your retirement table. A family member's illness shouldn’t cost you your future.
We don’t make the rules, but we sure as hell can change them.
We need guaranteed super for carers.
A primary carer will lose on average...
- $175,000 in superannuation at age 67^
$392,500 in lifetime earnings to age 67^
Young carers on average will suffer more...
- 60% have not studied beyond high-school^
43 years of income support required over their lifetime^
Every day, carers around Australia put all or part of their lives and ambitions aside to care for others. People who provide informal care are not paid for their work, although some receive income support payments from the Government.
Becoming a carer increases their financial vulnerability as they sacrifice income, future income potential and superannuation, to look after someone they love.
Is that a fair price on love?
That's why we have launched the Cost of Caring Change AREgenda to address the economic imbalance for carers.
With your support, we will be asking the Government to pay superannuation to all recognised unpaid carers** in Australia. We believe that this small change will have significant benefits both for carers and the continued support of those who need care.
Investing in adequate financial assistance for carers to sustainably continue their caring roles and have security at retirement age makes economic sense. Recognising the financial impact of caring will help us all in the long term, ensuring we continue to have Australians willing and able to meet the demand for carers in the future.
Let’s guarantee super for Australia's primary carers.
Take Action Now: Sign Our Petition
Tell your story
Are you a carer facing financial hardship? Share your story if you would like it to be used to support our campaign.
Email us at info@costofcaring
For more information visit our website www.costofcaring.com.au
Partners
*Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2018
**The definition for carer (under the Australian Government Carer Recognition Act 2010) is someone who gives care and support to a relative or friend who: has a disability; has a medical condition (terminal or chronic illness); has a mental illness; or is frail because they are old (known as ‘frail and aged’)
^Caring Costs Us: The economic impact on lifetime income and retirement savings of informal carers – a report for Carers Australia
21,780
The issue
Australia’s unpaid carers are in crisis, and it’s time to do something about it.
When a family member or close friend falls ill, who steps in to help?
Primary carers. But there's a massive problem: seven in 10* of these primary carers are women, and they're not paid superannuation.
Over time, this deficit adds up. Big time. Enough to make or break you in later life. Putting others first shouldn’t put you out of home. Providing for others shouldn’t take the food from your retirement table. A family member's illness shouldn’t cost you your future.
We don’t make the rules, but we sure as hell can change them.
We need guaranteed super for carers.
A primary carer will lose on average...
- $175,000 in superannuation at age 67^
$392,500 in lifetime earnings to age 67^
Young carers on average will suffer more...
- 60% have not studied beyond high-school^
43 years of income support required over their lifetime^
Every day, carers around Australia put all or part of their lives and ambitions aside to care for others. People who provide informal care are not paid for their work, although some receive income support payments from the Government.
Becoming a carer increases their financial vulnerability as they sacrifice income, future income potential and superannuation, to look after someone they love.
Is that a fair price on love?
That's why we have launched the Cost of Caring Change AREgenda to address the economic imbalance for carers.
With your support, we will be asking the Government to pay superannuation to all recognised unpaid carers** in Australia. We believe that this small change will have significant benefits both for carers and the continued support of those who need care.
Investing in adequate financial assistance for carers to sustainably continue their caring roles and have security at retirement age makes economic sense. Recognising the financial impact of caring will help us all in the long term, ensuring we continue to have Australians willing and able to meet the demand for carers in the future.
Let’s guarantee super for Australia's primary carers.
Take Action Now: Sign Our Petition
Tell your story
Are you a carer facing financial hardship? Share your story if you would like it to be used to support our campaign.
Email us at info@costofcaring
For more information visit our website www.costofcaring.com.au
Partners
*Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2018
**The definition for carer (under the Australian Government Carer Recognition Act 2010) is someone who gives care and support to a relative or friend who: has a disability; has a medical condition (terminal or chronic illness); has a mental illness; or is frail because they are old (known as ‘frail and aged’)
^Caring Costs Us: The economic impact on lifetime income and retirement savings of informal carers – a report for Carers Australia
21,780
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Petition created on 19 March 2024