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Key information about carers in Victoria

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Carers are the social glue which binds together relationships between formal service providers, volunteers and people receiving care.

There is a broader and multi-dimensional definition of care beyond labour which cannot be measured solely in monetary terms.

There have been several studies which find caring has a major impact on carers, with many needs remaining unmet.

Direct and indirect costs incurred because of caring impact a carer’s own standard of living.

They are experiencing high levels of financial stress and are unlikely to have financial reserves to endure unexpected expenses.

The key numbers around carers

The following data is specific to unpaid carers in Victoria. Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics.

750,000+

Victorians provide unpaid care and support to family or friends.

12%

Of the state's population are unpaid carers.

26%

Victoria’s carers live in outer regional or rural areas.

14%

Of Victorian carers under 25 years of age.

81%

Care for an immediate family member or relative.

14%

Provide unpaid care for two people or more.

39%

Of Victorian carers report living with a disability themselves.

29%

Of Victoria’s unpaid carers were born overseas.

Primary carers

There are close to 300,000 primary carers in Victoria. That is a person who provides the most assistance with the core activities of mobility, self-care and communication.

This number has risen by 30% since 2018.

40%

Are primary carers who provide
the most assistance.

70%

Of primary carers in Victoria are female.

50%

Of primary carers do not participate in paid work.

31%

Of primary carers provide over 40 hours of unpaid care per week.

The value of carers

The economic contribution of carers in Victoria, while often overlooked in traditional economic metrics like GDP, is staggering. It can be broken down into several key areas:

Savings to the public purse: This is arguably the most direct and significant economic benefit. If the care provided by unpaid carers had to be replaced by formal, paid services (such as those accessed through My Aged Care or the NDIS), the cost would be immense.
National Estimates: National data from Deloitte Access Economics in 2020 estimated the annual replacement value of all unpaid care in Australia at $77.9 billion. This figure represents the cost of “buying” an equivalent amount of care from the formal sector. For Victoria, in 2022, Carers Victoria reported that the economic cost of support provided by Victorian carers was equivalent to over $19 billion every year.
Preventing System Collapse: Without this informal care, the demand on Victoria’s health, aged care, and disability support systems would be unsustainable, leading to severe resource shortages and escalating public expenditure. Carers prevent countless individuals from needing more expensive institutional care.

Reduced Workforce Participation: Many carers, particularly primary carers (those providing the most intensive care), are forced to reduce their working hours, take on less demanding roles, or withdraw from the workforce entirely to meet their caring responsibilities.
Significant Financial Impact on Carers: For every year someone is a primary carer, they can lose a substantial amount in lifetime earnings and superannuation savings. Carers Victoria highlights that for every year someone is a primary carer, they will lose an average of $39,600 in lifetime earnings and $17,700 in superannuation savings.
Impact on the Broader Economy: This lost workforce participation represents a significant “opportunity cost” to the Victorian economy. It means a reduction in potential tax revenue, consumer spending, and overall economic output. In 2020, nationally, the estimated earnings foregone for primary and non-primary carers combined was $15.2 billion.
Gender Inequality: The burden of unpaid care disproportionately falls on women. Victorian women undertake nearly twice as much unpaid work as men, which significantly impacts their participation and earnings in the paid labour market. This perpetuates gender inequality and reduces the overall productive capacity of the female workforce.

By providing care, carers enable the person they care for to remain at home or participate in activities they otherwise couldn’t. This can indirectly support other economic activities, such as allowing other family members to work, or reducing the need for costly medical interventions that would strain the public health system.

In essence, the economic contribution of carers in Victoria is immense, acting as a critical, albeit often invisible, pillar of the state’s social and economic infrastructure. While their direct financial remuneration is minimal or non-existent, the cost of replacing their services and the foregone economic activity they incur are significant, underscoring the urgent need for greater recognition and support for these essential individuals.

Key numbers about Carers Victoria

55,000 hours

Of respite, education, events and assistance delivered to carers

37% of carer assistance

Delivered to rural & regional carers

209 grants

allocated to 168 Carer Support
Groups, reaching over 3000 carers

7,175 calls answered

By our Carer Advisory Service

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