About carers
The Carers (Recognition) Act 2008 (the Act) was passed by the Queensland Parliament on 26 November 2008 and became law on 11 December 2008. The Act sets out a Queensland carers charter which contains 11 principles recognising the significant contribution carers make to the community. The Queensland Parliament included a preamble to the Queensland carers charter to acknowledge the valuable contribution made by carers to lives of the people they care for.
The Act also provides for the establishment of a Carers Advisory Council to advise and make recommendations to the Minister for Disabilities on the interests of carers.
Carers are defined by the Carers (Recognition) Act 2008 as:
A carer is an individual who provides, in a non-contractual and unpaid capacity, ongoing care or assistance to another person who, because of disability, frailty, chronic illness or pain, requires assistance with everyday tasks.
However, for the purpose of the Carers (Recognition) Act 2008, a person is not a carer-
- only because the person is the spouse, parent or guardian of a person to whom care is provided; or
- if the person provides the care or assistance as a volunteer for a voluntary organisation.
Last updated February 2009