SA Carers Recognition Act 2005

The 12 principles

1. A carer should be respected and recognised as—
   1. an individual with their own needs; and
   2. a carer; and
   3. someone with knowledge of the person receiving care; and
   4. a partner in care with other service providers.
2. A carer should be recognised and valued for—
   1. their vital role in South Australian society, delivering significant social benefits to individuals, their families and the broader community; and
   2. their significant economic contribution which supports the effective operation of the health, aged care and child protection systems; and
   3. their significant personal sacrifices, forgoing careers, social lives, education and financial security to care for others, which can impact their mental and physical wellbeing; and
   4. 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—
1. carers from LGBTIQA+ communities; and
2. culturally and linguistically diverse carers; and
3. older carers (aged 65 and above); and
4. defence family and veterans' carers; and
5. carers with disability; and
6. 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—
1. ethnicity; and
2. culture; and
3. religion; and
4. age; and
5. sexual orientation; and
6. gender identity; and
7. disability; and
8. neurodivergence; and
9. socioeconomic status; and
10. geographical location.

Source: Carers Recognition Act 2005