Australia's unpaid carers have been urged to speak up about their experiences to help shape a national strategy.
Consultation has opened on a federal government discussion paper for carers to suggest what can be done to provide better support and services.
It's estimated more than three million Australians are unpaid carers, which represents almost 12 per cent of households nationwide.
The national carer strategy is set to be unveiled by the federal government by the end of the year.
Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said the strategy would be informed by the needs and experiences of those providing unpaid support.
"We want to hear from unpaid carers, former carers and the support sector about their experiences and how we can better support them both in their caring role and other aspects of their lives," she said.
“We’re also holding a series of face-to-face consultations around the country, including in metropolitan, regional and remote locations to ensure the strategy reflects the diverse experiences of all carers.”
Of the more than three million unpaid carers, 391,000 were under 25, up from the 235,000 young carers in 2018.
It's estimated 12.8 per cent of all women in Australia were unpaid carers, compared with 11.1 per cent of all men.
Figures have shown 1.2 million people were primary carers, with more than 43 per cent of those having a disability.
Ms Rishworth said the national strategy would provide a framework for federal government departments such as aged care, mental health and disability in supporting people with unpaid carer responsibilities.
“We need to ensure supports for carers are appropriately designed and prioritised, enabling them to better balance their caring role with all aspects of their lives, such as work, study and social participation," she said.
Consultation on the strategy is open until September 13.
