1. To recognise and take into account the real devaluation of the Carer’s Allowance since the introduction in its current incarnation (1999), the Federal government must increase the Carer’s Allowance to at least $493.80 per fortnight; this being fifty-percent of the current March 2022 Carer Payment/Pension Rate of $987.60.

As the basic Aged and Disability Pension rates are on par with Carer’s Payment, Carer’s Allowance should be payable in addition to a carer’s primary benefit.

2. To recognise and take into account the real loss in a primary carer’s lifetime savings, earnings, benefits and superannuation, the Federal government must pay the current Superannuation Guarantee (SG) contribution on behalf of the carer who should be able to access it (tax free) upon ceasing to be a primary carer.

3. In acknowledgement of their fixed and inflexible incomes and to recognise those real costs outlaid by carers for, and on behalf of those they care for with respect to medical appointments and procedures, pharmaceuticals, allied health services, specialist and other contingencies, the Federal government must prohibit any fully or partially funded government contractor, grant recipient, aged care and/or disability service provider from charging gap fees or co-payments.

4. To recognise the delineation between paid and unpaid carers alike is blurred and seems irrelevant; this is evidenced by community misconceptions about the appellation carer which is often misused as a broad, or umbrella term for professional and unpaid carers alike.

Professional carers are paid support workers, and unpaid family and community caregivers are carers.

The Federal government must facilitate a public education campaign to restore and reinforce the fundamental distinctions between paid support workers and carers.

5. To accept that some care providers are more concerned with accomplishing hypothetical goals and reaching statistical targets than they are directly engaging with and assisting carers, the Federal government needs to establish regional service hubs where information is acquired, distributed, disseminated and free-flowing directly between carers and the government.