Carers Recognition (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill
Thursday 30 October 2025
S.E. ANDREWS (Gibson) (12:18): I rise to speak in support of the Carers Recognition (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill 2025, a bill that delivers on the government's 2023-24 budget commitment to report on the review of the Carers Recognition Act. Carers are individuals who provide essential care and support to family members, friends and members of our community, often quietly and often without the recognition or resources they deserve. This amendment bill is about modernising and strengthening the Carers Recognition Act. It seeks to improve carers' ability to self-identify, ensuring they are better supported, acknowledged and empowered in their roles.
This bill is the direct result of consultation with carers themselves. Their voices have shaped this legislation. The bill will strengthen the accountability of state government departments and expand reporting requirements under the act to promote greater consistency, transparency and responsiveness across government.
With this legislation, South Australia will become the first jurisdiction in Australia to align its carers recognition framework with the National Carer Strategy—a landmark move that positions our state as a national leader in carer recognition and support. The bill also incorporates recommendations from the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs following its inquiry into the recognition of unpaid carers. These recommendations ensure our approach is informed by national evidence and best practice.
Crucially, this bill recognises carers as individuals in their own right: people with wants, needs and aspirations that are often overlooked when they take on the role of caring for others. The updated definition of 'carer' reflects contemporary care relationships and aligns with national standards. It removes the requirement for care to be ongoing and recognises a broader range of unpaid carers: those supporting individuals with medical conditions, mental ill health, frailty or substance dependence. Rather than listing specific carer types, the new definition focuses on the care relationship itself. This ensures inclusivity, avoids hierarchies among carer types and recognises the diversity of care arrangements across our community.
Embedded within the Carers Recognition Act 2005 is the Carers Charter, which serves as a formal acknowledgement of the vital role carers play in our society. While not legally enforceable, the charter articulates the values and principles that underpin carer recognition. It affirms carers' rights to make choices within their caring role, highlights the importance of their own health and wellbeing, and recognises their contribution to maintaining the social fabric of our communities.
Through this amendment bill, specific cohorts such as informal kinship carers, grandcarers and young carers are explicitly acknowledged within the Carers Charter, recognising their unique experiences and contributions. The charter also recognises that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers should be supported in ways that respect their right to self-determination and reflect their unique cultural identity and kinship relationships. Importantly, the charter also recognises the social and economic value of carers, who often provide care at great personal cost to their careers, wellbeing, education, social lives and financial security.
Carers reflect the diversity of our communities, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that they are provided with appropriate, safe and tailored support services that meet their specific and unique needs. I commend the bill to the house.
