Workplaces and Carers Survey

We’re seeking insights on how workplaces can better recognise and support carers at work.

Carers are people who provide unpaid care and support to family members and friends who have a disability, mental illness, chronic condition, terminal illness, an alcohol or other drug issue or who are frail aged.

This short survey will take just a few minutes, and your responses will help inform conversations on how Australian workplaces can improve support for carers.

Carers Australia delivers Carer-Inclusive Workplace Initiative, an Australian Government Initiative. Carers Australia has partnered with Women’s Agenda to produce this survey.

This survey is distributed as a part of the Carer-Inclusive Workplace Initiative, a program funded by the Department of Health, Disability and Aging and delivered by Carers Australia. The information collected will be securely stored by Women’s Agenda and survey data will be shared with Carers Australia and the Department of Health Disability and Ageing. Data will be solely used for research and reporting purposes. Your responses will help inform the development of a report which will discuss carers in the workplace. This report will be launched at an event delivered in partnership with Carers Australia and Womens Agenda in late 2025. All data will be analysed anonymously and in aggregate, and individual responses will remain confidential. Participation is voluntary, and you may choose to exit the survey at any time. By participating in this survey, you are consenting to the use of the information you provide for the purposes of informing the report.

1.Do you currently have responsibility for, or oversight of, workplace policies that support employees with caring responsibilities?
2.In the past three years, do you believe awareness of carers and their responsibilities outside of work has improved in your workplace?
3.To what extent do you agree with the following statements about your organisation’s approach to carers?
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
N/A
Our organisation has effective policies in place to support carers.
Employees are aware of their rights to flexibility and support.
Carers in our workplace may face stigma when requesting support.
We have resources (budget, staff, systems) to support carers effectively.
We have a dedicated Employee Resource Group or similar network for carers.
4.Do you have policies that directly address the long-term financial disadvantages that carers experience?
5.To what extent do you agree with the following statements regarding managers in your workplace who have carers in their teams?
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
N/A
More manager training is needed to understand carer policies in place
Some carers still face workplace barriers due to managers not understanding their needs
We are making progress on improving how managers support carers in their teams
6.Do you believe organisations can do more to support carers to identify as carers at work?
7.Are there any specific barriers you believe your organisation has faced in becoming a carer-inclusive organisation? For example, time and resources, budget constraint, competing priorities?
Please share, or leave blank.
8.Please share any initiatives your workplace has introduced to support carers, and (if available) any evidence of the impact they have made. Please share, or leave blank
9.What do you believe is the biggest challenge your workplace still needs to overcome to better support carers? Please share, or leave blank.
10.What is the best thing a workplace could do to better support carers? Please share, or leave blank.
11.Which of the following best describes your organisation's size in terms of full time equivelent staff members?
12.Where are the Australian operations of your organisation headquartered?
13.Would you be interested in being contacted by Women’s Agenda to elaborate further on the information shared above?
14.Do you believe carers are recognised and supported in Australian workplaces?