Carers deserve recognition.
They also deserve healthcare that listens to them, respects their contribution and considers their needs.
National Carers Week runs from 11 to 17 October 2026. This year’s theme, “Care for a Carer: Making Carers Visible”, asks us to recognise and support unpaid carers in our communities.
In her article, “When I Became a Carer, I Did Not Expect to Become Invisible”, Clara Deans reflects on how caring can change a person’s life, priorities and sense of identity. Her account asks us to consider the person doing the caring, alongside the care they provide.
For Health Consumers’ Council WA, this raises a question: what should recognising carers look like in everyday healthcare?
It should mean asking what support a carer needs. Listening to their knowledge and concerns. Checking what they can realistically manage before planning care at home.
It should mean involving carers in ways that respect the choices, privacy and independence of the person receiving care.
Recognition already has a place in WA’s healthcare framework. The Western Australian Carers Charter says carers must receive respectful treatment and be included in services that affect their caring role. Their views and needs must be considered alongside those of the person receiving care.
We want those principles to shape everyday experiences. Before someone leaves hospital, ask whether their carer has the information and support they need. When a carer raises a concern, listen and respond. When designing services, make room for both consumer and carer perspectives.
We should also ask carers about their own health and wellbeing, and what would help them maintain a life beyond caring.
A fairer healthcare system should support people receiving care and the people who care for them.