Transforming evidence into support: investing in a carer wellbeing research agenda.

Abstract

As Australia's first National Carer Strategy gets underway, this perspective article explicates the role research can play in addressing critical gaps in carer support. The contribution of Australia's more than three million unpaid carers is vital for those they support and health system sustainability. Progress towards carer support is constrained by limited knowledge of the support that works, how it works, and how it can be implemented in practice in the busy lives of those who provide unpaid care. A reframing of how we think about the role of carers is warranted, in tandem with investment to bolster capacity for developing, trialling, and translating accessible, evidence-based support that is tailored to carer preferences. A carer wellbeing research agenda is called for that is equity-oriented, is undertaken in partnership with carers, builds on existing knowledge gains, and incorporates co-design and implementation science principles to promote practice-ready initiatives.