Many carers also work. Your caring duties and your job may both be important and necessary parts of your life. But it may be difficult to balance the demands of caring, family and work.
For more on this, see Caring for someone with cancer and listen to our podcast on Cancer Affects the Carer Too.
Learn more about:
- Who is a working carer?
- Who can take paid carer’s leave?
- Will I be able to work?
- Talking to your employer
- Taking time off work
- Financial help for carers
- Support for carers
- Looking after yourself
Who is a working carer?
A working carer combines paid employment with providing unpaid personal care, assistance and support to a person with an illness or disability. There are many different types of caring situations:
- you may be a partner, relative, friend or neighbour
- the person you are caring for may also be employed or you may be looking after someone who isn’t in the workforce
- care can be part-time or full-time, for a short time or long term
- the support can be practical (e.g. helping with meals, personal care, travel to doctors), emotional (e.g. talking) or spiritual (e.g. praying).
Who can take paid carer’s leave?
Carer’s leave is available when looking after certain members of your family or people you live with, including:
- immediate family members – a spouse, de facto partner, partner, child, parent, grandparent, grandchild or sibling (brother or sister)
- your partner’s immediate family members – a child, parent, sibling, grandparent or grandchild of your spouse, partner or de facto partner
- household members – any person who lives with you
- former partners – a former or ex spouse, partner or de facto partner.
→ READ MORE: Will I be able to work?
Podcast: Cancer Affects the Carer Too
Listen to more episodes from our podcast for people affected by cancer
Brooke Russell, Principal Occupational Therapist, WA Cancer Occupational Therapy, WA; Bianca Alessi, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council SA; Dr Prunella Blinman, Medical Oncologist, Concord Cancer Centre, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, NSW; James Chirgwin, Physiotherapist, The Wesley Hospital, QLD; Danielle Curnoe, Consumer; Simon Gates, Barrister, Tasmanian Bar, TAS; Justin Hargreaves, Medical Oncology Nurse Practitioner, Bendigo Health Cancer Centre, VIC; Kaylene Jacques, Director, People and Communications, Cancer Council NSW; Alex Kelly, Senior People Attraction Advisor, Human Resources, Allianz Australia Insurance, NSW; Legal reviewer; Georgina Lohse, Social Worker, GV Health, VIC; Lesley McQuire, Consumer, Cancer Voices NSW.
View the Cancer Council NSW editorial policy.
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