What was the inquiry about?
The Five Productivity Inquiries were a series of five investigations carried out by the Australian Productivity Commission at the request of the Australian Government in December 2024.
The purpose of these inquiries was to identify practical ways to improve Australia’s productivity growth and support long-term economic prosperity. The Productivity Commission delivered its final reports to the government, including 47 recommendations aimed at boosting productivity across key areas of the economy.
These recommendations provide a roadmap for reforms that could help businesses, workers and communities become more productive, innovative and competitive.
What was the Submission about?
Informal carers provide unpaid support to family members, friends and loved ones living with chronic illness, disability, mental illness or age-related conditions. Their contribution enables thousands of Australians to remain at home and in their communities while reducing reliance on hospitals, aged care and other health services.
The submission highlights that carers make a substantial economic contribution to Australia, yet often experience poorer physical health, mental health, financial wellbeing and workforce participation outcomes as a result of their caring responsibilities. While carers are essential to the healthcare system, their own wellbeing needs are often overlooked.
The submission calls for carers to be recognised as a critical but largely invisible workforce and for reforms that better support carers within Australia’s healthcare system. Improving carer wellbeing would not only benefit carers and those they support, but would also strengthen workforce participation, reduce pressure on healthcare services and contribute to improved national productivity
Key points included
- Informal carers are one of Australia’s largest unpaid workforces and provide essential support that helps reduce demand on the healthcare system.
- Caring responsibilities can negatively affect carers’ physical health, mental health, social wellbeing and financial security.
- Poor health and wellbeing among carers can also affect the health outcomes of the people they care for, creating additional pressure on health services.
- Current healthcare systems focus primarily on the patient and do not consistently identify, assess or support carers’ own needs.
- There is limited national data on carers’ wellbeing, service use and support needs, making it difficult to target resources and investment effectively
- Better support for carers represents a significant opportunity to improve health outcomes, labour force participation, workforce retention and productivity across the broader economy.
What we recommended
- Collect comprehensive national data on carers’ wellbeing, service use and support needs to inform policy and government investment.
- Develop a nationally consistent framework to identify carers and assess their wellbeing within healthcare settings.
- Co-design healthcare systems and care pathways that formally recognise carers and support their own health and wellbeing needs.
- Improve support for carers through Medicare-funded assessments, wellbeing services and referral pathways.
- Provide education and training for healthcare professionals to better identify and support carers.
- Establish ongoing monitoring and evaluation to ensure support programs remain effective and deliver value for government investment.
In summary
This submission supports stronger consumer and community involvement in health and medical research across Australia. It highlights the importance of lived experience, genuine partnerships and inclusive research practices, while calling for the funding, guidance and support needed to turn these principles into everyday practice. By strengthening the final Statement, there is an opportunity to improve the quality, relevance and impact of health and medical research for communities.
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