National Carers Week 2026
National Carers Week, dedicated to acknowledging and celebrating carers in Australia, will be held from Sunday 11 to Saturday 17 October 2026.
The 2026 theme, “Care for a carer: Making carers visible,” shines a light on the invaluable contribution of unpaid carers and encourages all Australians to recognise, support and care for the carers in their families, workplaces and communities..
There are over 3 million carers in Australia providing care and support to a family member or friend who has a disability, mental illness, alcohol or drug dependency, long term health condition or who is frail due to age.
Anyone at any time can become a carer. National Carers Week is an opportunity to educate and raise awareness among all Australians about the diversity of carers and their caring roles.
CaringKids is a recipient of the Carers Week 2026 Grant. We will host a young carer Joy Maker Workshop with young carers aged 8 to 12 years of age in celebration of Carers Week.
Who are young carers?
Young carers are a person up to the age of 25 years old. They provide unpaid care and support to family member/s, or friends with
- a disability
- physical or mental illness
- a substance dependency or who is aged.
Young carers are often unseen in the role of carers. They see what they do for the person they care for as part of their normal role. They see it as helping out whilst some provide the majority of care.
Our young carers
See a list of all our young carers and read their ‘letters’ to us 
National Carers Week approaches this October
As National Carers Week approaches this October, we are calling on the compassion and generosity of our Lions community to help recognise some of Australia’s most remarkable young people — our young carers.
Across the country, more than 300,000 young Australians provide daily care for family members living with disability, chronic illness, mental health conditions, or substance dependency. Many care for siblings, parents, or grandparents, often with little recognition or support — and for those in rural and regional communities, services can be especially limited.
For this October Carers Week, we invite every Lions Club in Australia to sponsor a Joy Box — a simple yet powerful way to show young carers that their efforts are seen, valued, and appreciated. Donate now and our young carers will get their Joy Boxes during October.