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Find out how carers are recognised and supported in South Australia, and what this means for carers, employers and organisations that deliver services to carers.
Carer's Recognition Act
The South Australian Carers Recognition Act 2005 (the Act) acknowledges the valuable role of carers in supporting those they care for within the community. The Act requires public sector agencies that deliver services relevant to carers and the people they care for to:
- be aware of and understand the Carers Charter and provide services that reflect the principles of the Carers Charter
- consult carers or people or bodies that represent them in policy or program development or strategic or operational planning relevant to carers and the persons they care for.
The Act is looked after by the Department of Human Services (DHS).
Amendment Act 2025
In late 2025, SA Parliament passed the Carers Recognition (Miscellaneous) Amendment Act 2025 (Amendment Act). The Amendment Act, which commenced on 1 July 2026, strengthens recognition of and support for carers by extending obligations and reporting requirements to all South Australian public sector agencies.
SA Carers Charter – 12 principles
The Act includes the updated SA Carers Charter that came into effect 1 July 2026. The Charter sets out these 12 principles that must guide services for carers.
1. A carer should be respected and recognised as:
- an individual with their own needs
- a carer
- someone with knowledge of the person receiving care
- a partner in care with other service providers.
2. A carer should be recognised and valued for:
- their vital role in South Australian society, delivering significant social benefits to individuals, their families and the broader community
- their significant economic contribution which supports the effective operation of the health, aged care and child protection systems
- their significant personal sacrifices, forgoing careers, social lives, education and financial security to care for others, which can impact their mental and physical wellbeing
- the skills they gain through caring which are valuable and transferable to the workforce.
3. A carer should be supported during changes to the care relationship.
4. A carer should have their social spiritual, cultural and economic wellbeing and health recognised in matters relating to the care relationship.
5. A carer should be provided with support that is timely, responsive, appropriate, respectful, culturally safe and accessible.
6. Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander carers should be supported in ways that recognise and respect their right to self-determination and their unique cultural identity and kinship relationships.
7. The gendered impact of caring roles should be recognised and considered in relevant decision making, including impacts that lower rates for self-identification of carers, as well as carers' participation in employment and education.
8. The specific needs of young carers (aged 25 and under) should be recognised, supported and acted on so that they have the support and opportunities needed to reach their full potential.
9. The unique and complex roles of informal carers, which may include grandparents, siblings, family friends, Aboriginal collective kinship care and other family and kinship relationships, should be recognised and supported irrespective of any ambiguities around guardianship and legal status.
10. Carers who continue to provide practical, emotional, personal support for the person they care for, even when they have transitioned into supported residential services, should be recognised for the significant and ongoing advocacy role for the person they care for.
11. Carers reflect the diversity of our communities, and all carers should be provided with appropriate and safe support services that consider their specific and unique needs, including:
- carers from LGBTIQA+ communities
- culturally and linguistically diverse carers
- older carers (aged 65 and above)
- defence family and veterans' carers
- carers with disability
- carers who live in regional and remote locations.
12. The intersectionality of carers must be acknowledged to address the additional barriers, challenges and discrimination carers with overlapping identities face, including:
- ethnicity
- culture
- religion
- age
- sexual orientation
- gender identity
- disability
- neurodivergence
- socioeconomic status
- geographical location.
How the Act helps carers
The Act aims to make sure carers have the same choices and opportunities as other South Australians. The Act recognises the importance of carers' health and wellbeing and that carers need to be consulted in decisions and planning that impacts them.
Who is not covered by the Act
The Act does not cover people who:
- are employed to care for someone
- provide care as volunteers in community organisations.
A carer of a child placed in care under the Childrens Protection Act 1993 or similar act is only considered a carer if the child has a disability, chronic or mental illness.
What our State Government must do
All public sector agencies must demonstrate an awareness of the Act and reflect the principles of the Carers Charter with services they provide for carers.
The Act requires service providers to consult with carers or their representatives when developing or delivering services. Relevant public sector agencies must also report against their obligations under section 6 of the Act in their annual reports.
The Amendment Act introduces several changes to the Act. From 1 July 2026 all South Australian public sector agencies:
- have obligations under section 6 of the Act
- must report on compliance or non-compliance with their obligations under section 6 of the Act in their annual reports.
Who are considered carers
A carer is a person who provides personal care, support or assistance to another person for one or more of the following reasons. The other person:
- has a disability
- is experiencing mental ill health
- has a medical condition – including a terminal or chronic illness, or dementia
- is frail due to age
- is experiencing alcohol or other drug dependence.
Proving you’re a carer
There is no uniform assessment that makes you eligible for all services, supports, and payments. Some agencies such as Centrelink may conduct formal assessments, others may not.
Rights as a working carer
The South Australian Equal Opportunity Act 1984 makes it unlawful for anyone to be treated unfairly because of caring responsibilities, or for requirements to be set that are especially difficult for carers to meet and are unreasonable.
For more information contact the South Australian Office of the Commissioner for Equal Opportunity:
Disability Discrimination Act 1992
If you're a carer of a person with a disability, you may be covered by the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 as an 'associate'.
The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 addresses discrimination in the areas of:
- work, accommodation, education, access to premises, clubs and sports
- the provision of goods, facilities, services and land
- existing laws
- the administration of Commonwealth laws and programs.
Local support organisations
Other support for carers, such as counselling, support groups, advocacy and young carer programs, is provided by locally based carer support organisations.
To find services in your local area you can:
- phone Commonwealth Carer Gateway on 1800 422 737
- see options on carer support services, DHS.
Information in other languages
Translated information for carers can be made available in a number of languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Italian, Persian and Vietnamese.
For more information and for other languages, call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 13 14 50.
The agency or person who calls TIS is responsible for paying for the service.
