Holstep Health: Carers Industry Forum 2025

Carers in Australia (and undoubtedly around the world) are silent heroes who remain undervalued within the health system. It is estimated that more than three million Australians are carers (based on data from the Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers). The support they provide is essential not only to the people they care for, but also to the broader chain of care within the health system.
The economic value of their unpaid work is enormous, especially when contrasted with the lost earnings, financial strain, and emotional challenges many carers face. While caring can be personally rewarding, it also raises an important question: how can the health sector better support carers and recognise them as an integral part of Australia’s health system—with appropriate funding, resources, and respect?
In 2025, Lifebuoy Video documented a Melbourne-based forum organised by Holstep Health and Carer Gateway. The event brought together carers, health and care leaders, policymakers, service providers, sector representatives and decision-makers for a powerful moment of collaboration and innovation.