Caring Cities: Learning from Older Carers in Melbourne
Through CHANGE Caring Cities, the City of Melbourne conducted research to better understand the opportunities and challenges facing “older carers” or residents aged 55 and over who provide care for spouses or loved ones.
Of the total number of people providing unpaid care or support in the City of Melbourne (locally known as “carers”), nearly a quarter are aged 60 and over. Furthermore, the population of older people is growing. Currently, more than 15,000 people aged 60 and over live in the City of Melbourne, making up approximately 10% of the total population. This is forecasted to increase significantly to more than 21,000 people aged 60 and over by 2036.
Older people often find themselves in the role of caregiver with limited preparation. This includes “hidden carers” – a term used by the organisation Carers Victoria to describe family members and friends in a caregiving role who do not see themselves as a carer and, therefore, may not access available support and services.
Without support, older carers can experience anxiety, isolation, and negative health outcomes. A review of global research demonstrates that older spouses with stressful caregiving demands have a higher mortality rate than their non-caregiver peers.
Through the CHANGE Caring Cities program, the City of Melbourne led a three-month research sprint from June to August 2025 to explore the experiences of older carers in Melbourne through interviews and focus groups.
Why now?
In 2024, the City of Melbourne reviewed its council-funded healthy ageing programs. This was followed by community engagement through a survey in April and May 2025 to understand older residents’ needs and priorities to age well in the municipality.
The survey successfully engaged 599 residents and generated meaningful insights. However, only 8% of survey respondents identified as carers compared with 2021 Census data, which showed that 14% of residents aged 60 and over provide unpaid care or support to others. Following the survey, the City of Melbourne prioritised additional outreach to diverse older carers to learn from their experience.
Learn more about the City of Melbourne’s existing services: melbourne.vic.gov.au/older-people
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