'Australian carer data sources: A comparative guide' is a regularly updated overview of datasets and major reports available in the Australian context that contain results relating to individuals who provide care and support to a family member or friend who lives with a disability, mental illness, alcohol or drug dependency, chronic condition, terminal illness or who is frail due to age.

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety identified that residential aged care (RAC) is not an appropriate environment for most younger people with disability. Many younger residents experience significant social and emotional harms, including isolation and loneliness. In response, the Australian Government committed to ensuring that no individuals under 65 live in RAC by January 2025.

This evaluation examined the appropriateness, effectiveness and sustainability of Commonwealth initiatives introduced since 2019 to reduce the number of younger people entering or remaining in RAC. It also captured key lessons to inform future policy directions. The evaluation was structured around a theory of change guiding how these initiatives were intended to create impact.

Unpaid caring for loved ones is a common experience that can have long-term effects on health. This study looked at how caring builds up over time and influences health later in life, using data from 3,194 people. Four types of caring patterns emerged: brief caregiving later in life, early and sustained caregiving, repeated caregiving episodes, and long-term overlapping caregiving. The study found that women with the most intensive caring roles reported more chronic health issues and depression. In contrast, those who cared later in life or in separate episodes had lower chances of cognitive decline. This highlights the importance of understanding how caring shapes health over the long term and underscores the need for policies that support carers throughout their lives.

Education and support for family carers of people with dementia are widely recommended, yet carers often receive inconsistent guidance and limited training to sustain their caregiving role. International dementia education standards reveal a notable absence of structured education for family carers. This study addresses that gap by evaluating the Carers’ Academy, a skills‑based programme codesigned with family carers using a three‑phase coproduction framework. The evaluation examined whether the programme improved carers’ wellbeing, dementia knowledge and practical care skills. Findings showed a statistically significant improvement in carers’ perceived wellbeing, alongside increased confidence, knowledge and skills. The study also demonstrates the value of involving carers in designing evaluations, contributing to the limited literature documenting carer participation in dementia research and highlighting the need for tailored, effective education.

This publication examines how the introduction of Long-Term Care Insurance (LTCI) in China affects the labour force participation of informal caregivers. Using longitudinal survey data and a staggered difference-in-difference approach, the study finds that LTCI reduces the time burden associated with unpaid caregiving, enabling caregivers to participate more actively in the labour market, particularly in non-agricultural employment. The effects are more pronounced among women, married individuals, those with lower levels of education, and healthier caregivers. The findings highlight how formal care policies can alleviate family caregiving pressures and support greater economic participation.

This article reviews research on how photo-based methods (such as photovoice, photo-elicitation, and photo-narratives) are used to explore the experiences of children with medical complexity (CMC), their caregivers, and clinicians. The authors analyzed 25 studies published over the last 20 years. Findings show that photo-based approaches help participants communicate complex aspects of daily life and care experiences that may be difficult to express verbally. The review identifies nine themes across relational, navigational and emotional dimensions, highlighting issues such as dependency, advocacy, stigma, uncertainty, and caregiver exhaustion. Overall, these methods improve understanding and communication between families and healthcare providers.

Down Syndrome Regression Disorder (DSRD) is a sudden neurocognitive decline in individuals with Down syndrome that affects communication, social, motor, cognitive, and physical abilities. This decline places significant and immediate strain on carers, whose social wellbeing is deeply impacted by the increased demands of caring. The study compared the experiences of DSRD carers with non‑DSRD carers to understand these social effects. Researchers found that DSRD carers experienced far higher levels of social exclusion and withdrawal, with 65.66% reporting negative impacts on adult friendships and 71.21% reporting declines in overall social relationships. Many described a shrinking social world as caregiving demands intensified. Rates of social withdrawal were also markedly higher among DSRD carers (43.2%) compared with non‑DSRD carers (17.9%). The study highlights the profound and lasting impact of DSRD on both individuals and carers, urging holistic interventions that support carers’ social and emotional wellbeing.

This review examined psychosocial interventions, programs and supports designed to promote the wellbeing of adolescent and young adult carers. A systematic search of four databases identified 3,972 papers, with only eight studies meeting the inclusion criteria. Three key themes emerged: the types of intervention and program strategies available, barriers to accessing and sustaining support, and young carers’ preferences for how support is delivered. Overall, the review found limited evidence on effective support for young carers, particularly compared with research documenting the negative impacts of caregiving at a young age. Low awareness of young carers’ roles and responsibilities reduced opportunities for identification and support.

This article highlights the issue of epistemic injustice, where the knowledge and experiences of family carers and the lived experience workforce are often dismissed or undervalued due to power imbalances within societal and institutional systems. Drawing from the author’s personal journey as both a carer and a lived experience worker, it reveals how assumptions and narrow views of knowledge silence carers, especially when intersecting with disability and distress.

This scoping review explores how mental health services support family recovery and what enables this support to be effective. Drawing on 27 studies, it identifies five main types of enablers: peer support, professional interventions, practice models, community services, and individual factors. These enablers are implemented through recovery frameworks, support resources, strong relational approaches, and access to appropriate services. Reported benefits include improved family understanding, communication and relationships, as well as greater advocacy, empowerment, self-efficacy, and personal recovery for family members.

This national epidemiological study investigates how many older Australians receiving long‑term home care have an informal carer, how this has changed over time, and how availability varies across different parts of the country. People with informal carers tend to be older, more likely to have dementia or mobility issues, and more often from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Notably, 14% of older people receiving home care were simultaneously providing informal care to someone else.