What Carers WA does

Carers WA is a non-profit, community-based organization and registered charity headquartered in Perth, Western Australia, established in 1994 to serve as the state's peak body representing the needs and interests of unpaid family carers. The organization supports an estimated 320,000 unpaid family carers across WA through a portfolio of federally and state-funded programs, including Carer Gateway Services (support planning, counselling, peer support, directed packages), Carer Wellness at Home, Young Carers Program, First Nations Wellbeing Program, Linking Together Social Support Groups, Carers in Employment Program, and Carer Representation. Its core customer base is segmented by persona (young carers, working carers, First Nations carers, regional carers) and geography, with services delivered through self-referral, online intake, professional referrals, in-person visits at the Carer Centre, a community engagement van, and regional outreach.

Carers WA operates without proprietary technology or a software product; its technology footprint is limited to a content website, online referral forms, email newsletters, and social media. Its business model is funded primarily by the Australian Government Department of Social Services via the Carer Gateway program, with supplementary revenue from charitable partnerships (including Telethon beneficiary status) and donations. All services are provided free of charge to carers. The organization is part of the National Network of Carers Associations and works with peak body Carers Australia, a network of Champion Organisations, health professionals, and academic partners including the University of Western Australia.

The organization is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Linda Wayman, with Richard Newman serving as CEO since 2022 following the retirement of Paul Coates. With 96 employees, Carers WA balances direct service delivery with policy advocacy, research, and sector convening — including the upcoming Carers WA Conference 2026 — positioning itself as the principal voice for unpaid family carers in Western Australia.

Name

Carers WA

Legal name

Carers WA

Website

https://carerswa.asn.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Carers WA is a Perth-based non-profit peak body and federally funded lead provider of Carer Gateway services in Western Australia, supporting approximately 320,000 unpaid family carers through counselling, peer support, advocacy, and in-home programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Caregiver Support Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Family Caregiver Coaching, Education & Support (HSABAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Care Management & Care Coordination (Home & Community-Based) (HLAFAEAL)

Keywords

• Carer support services
• Family caregiver advocacy
• Nonprofit community services
• Peer support programs
• Carer wellness programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Perth, Western Australia

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Primary revenue is government funding, particularly from the Department of Social Services for delivery of Carer Gateway services in Western Australia. The organization receives funding for advocacy, support services, and program delivery.
2. Philanthropic/Charitable Funding: Additional support through charitable donations and partnerships such as Telethon, which has selected Carers WA as a beneficiary for specific programs like the Young Carer Adventure Camp.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Carers WA is a non-profit, community-based registered charity that delivers free support services to an estimated 320,000 unpaid family carers in Western Australia. Its core offerings centre on the federally funded Carer Gateway program and include specialist information and advice, counselling, peer support, in-home support, social support groups, employment assistance, advocacy, and tailored programs for young carers, First Nations carers, and regional carers. All services are provided at no cost to individual carers and funded through government grants and philanthropic support.

Product overview

Carers WA operates as a single, integrated service portfolio centered on the Carer Gateway program, providing a comprehensive range of support services for unpaid family carers in Western Australia. The core offerings include Carer Gateway Services (support planning, counselling, peer support, directed packages), the Carer Wellness at Home program for in-home support, Young Carers Program and Youth Advisory Group for carers under 25, Linking Together Social Support Groups for community connection, the Carers in Employment Program for workforce support, Carer Representation Program for advocacy, First Nations Wellbeing Program for culturally appropriate services, and regional services. Supporting resources include Conversation Cards, the Young Carer Peer Support Toolkit, the Employer Guide e-book, Digital Resources Library, and Community Engagement Program. The organization also provides aged care reform information services and operates a Youth Advisory Group for young carer advocacy. Carers WA functions as a nonprofit community organization rather than a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Carer Gateway Services Federal government-funded practical supports and services for unpaid carers, including support planning, peer support, counselling, and directed packages, delivered as the lead provider of Carer Gateway in Western Australia.
• Carer Wellness at Home In-home program bringing Carers WA's service and support to carers of older family members, with holistic support, guidance, and access to Carer Wellbeing events and training.
• Young Carers Program Program supporting young carers under 25 who help look after family members with disability, mental illness, chronic illness, or drug or alcohol problems, including camps, activities, peer support, and youth advisory groups.
• Linking Together Social Support Groups Monthly Linking Together social support groups coordinated by trained volunteers, providing carers with regular breaks and opportunities to meet others in their local community throughout metropolitan and some regional areas.
• Carers in Employment Program Program assisting carers to enter or re-enter paid employment and helping WA employers create carer-friendly workplaces for employees with caring responsibilities.
• Carer Representation Program Program enabling people in caring roles to provide a voice for carers through representation activities with government, service providers, and the community.
• First Nations Wellbeing Program Culturally appropriate support and engagement services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers in Western Australia, including yarning circles and culturally safe practices.
• Prepare to Care Hospital Program Hospital-based program supporting unpaid carers during hospital admissions and transitions of care for the person they care for.
• Carers Retreats Retreat programs providing unpaid carers in WA with opportunities for rest, rejuvenation, and respite from their caring responsibilities.
• Carers WA in the Regions Support services delivered throughout regional Western Australia outside the Perth metropolitan area, including regional outreach and the Cups for Carers regional program.
• Carer Gateway Service Providers Information and support services for partner service providers working with unpaid carers under the federally funded Carer Gateway program in Western Australia.
• Policy, Systemic Advocacy & Research Policy, systemic advocacy, and research activities influencing government policy and systemic change to improve outcomes for unpaid carers in Western Australia.
• Aged Care Reform Information Service Resources, training, and support helping unpaid carers understand and adapt to Australian aged care reforms, including the Support at Home program.
• Youth Advisory Group (YAG) Paid advisory group of young carers aged 16-25 providing input on Carers WA programs, policies, and initiatives affecting young carers in Western Australia.
• Referral Services Online referral form allowing unpaid carers to self-register or have health professionals, service providers, or agencies submit referrals on their behalf, with structured intake, needs assessment, and personalised action planning.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 320,000 unpaid family carers supported in Western Australia
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Department of Social ServicescoreOthersPrimary government funder for Carer Gateway services in Western Australia. Carers WA is the lead provider of Carer Gateway services in WA. Funding agreement providers receive de-identified data for reporting and statistical analysis. DSS directive requires FOI requests to have identifying information de-identified/removed.
• National Network of Carers AssociationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarers WA is part of the National Network of Carers Associations, working in partnership with other state carers associations to achieve improved quality of life for carers nationally.
• Champion OrganisationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organisations with specific speciality, reach and focus into communities which require appropriate cultural approaches and support requirements. May have access to personal information of carers when engaging with them directly.
• ScreenwestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on 'Filming Our Future' documentary series - a 15-part disability-led documentary series exploring individuals, families and friends in caring roles and communities.
• The University of Western AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership producing the report 'Evaluation of the Young Carers Peer Support Group Toolkit' in collaboration with UWA Research Lead Dr Stephan Lund.
• Carers AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational peak body for carers; Carers WA works in partnership on national initiatives, research surveys, and advocacy efforts at the federal level.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Carers Australia: National peak body for unpaid carers and parent of the state Carers Associations network. Carers WA operates as an affiliate under this network, making Carers Australia the closest structural peer and policy counterpart.
• Carers NSW: State peak body for unpaid family carers in New South Wales and fellow Carer Gateway service provider. Operates the same business model (advocacy, counselling, education, peer support) in a different geography, making it the most directly comparable peer.
• Carers Victoria: State peak body for carers in Victoria. Delivers the same Carer Gateway program alongside advocacy and direct support services, with a comparable funding mix from DSS and state government.
• Carers Queensland: Queensland's peak body for unpaid family carers, providing parallel services under the Carer Gateway and broader carer support programs. Highly comparable in mission, structure, and funding model to Carers WA.
• Carers SA: South Australian peak body for family carers. Same network affiliation, same Carer Gateway delivery role, same advocacy-and-direct-service hybrid model.
• Carers Tasmania: Tasmania's peak body for unpaid carers, delivering Carer Gateway and direct support services under the same national framework. Operates at smaller scale due to Tasmania's population, otherwise structurally identical to Carers WA.

Broad incumbents

• Dementia Australia: National peak body for people living with dementia, their families and carers. Comparable as a condition-specific carer advocacy and support organization with deeper funding and broader scope, and an overlap in target audience with Carers WA's aged-carer programs.
• COTA Australia (Council on the Ageing): National peak body advocating for older Australians. Comparable in mission (advocacy, policy influence, information services for an ageing demographic) and in non-medical support positioning, though broader in scope than Carers WA's carer-specific focus.

Regional players

• Wellways Australia: Large Australian mental health and disability community-services nonprofit with carer and family support programs. Comparable as a community-services operator with similar funding model and carer-adjacent offerings, though with a wider disability/mental-health focus.

Emerging players

• Mable Technologies: Australian digital marketplace connecting care recipients with independent support workers. Represents an emerging digital-first model of care coordination that overlaps with parts of Carers WA's Carer Gateway navigation role, though operating as a commercial platform rather than a non-profit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Carers-WA
• Instagraminstagram.com/carerswa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carers-wa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Carers WA