WA Government Fails Carers: Department of Communities Lacks Full Compliance with Recognition Act

WA Government Fails Carers: Department of Communities Lacks Full Compliance with Recognition Act

Just 13 August 2026, a report tabled in WA Parliament revealed the Department of Communities is not fully compliant with the Carers Recognition Act.

What happened

A tabled paper titled the "Carers Recognition Act Compliance Report" has detailed identified compliance issues within the Department of Communities. This report, presented to Parliament, highlights that the department is not meeting all its obligations under the Carers Recognition Act 2004 (WA). The Act itself aims to ensure that the significant role of carers is recognised and that their needs are considered in government policy and service delivery. The findings of this report are available in the Carers Recognition Act Compliance Report.

What this means for you

If you are a carer in Western Australia, this report signals a potential gap in the support and recognition you are entitled to. Carers provide invaluable unpaid assistance to family members or friends with a disability, chronic illness, or who are frail aged. Non-compliance by the Department of Communities could mean that decisions impacting your caring role, or the person you care for, may not have adequately considered your needs or the unique challenges you face. This could affect access to information, respite care, or other essential services designed to support your vital contribution.

What this means for WA

This finding casts a spotlight on the state's commitment to its carer population. The Carers Recognition Act is a legislative commitment to acknowledging the role of carers. When a major government department like Communities falls short of full compliance, it raises questions about the broader implementation and enforcement of carer-focused policies across the public sector. It suggests a need for greater oversight and accountability to ensure that government agencies are not just acknowledging carers in principle, but actively embedding their recognition into practice.

The numbers

While the report does not specify a numerical deficit in compliance, its core finding is the "identified compliance issues" by the Department of Communities. This is the primary evidence that the department's adherence to the Carers Recognition Act is not complete. The Department of Communities is a significant government agency, evidenced by its numerous tenders, including contracts for youth accommodation services (DOC202555560), cleaning services (Cleaning Services to Department of Communities - 16 Symmons St, Bunbury), and support networks (Bindjareb Region (Mandurah and surrounds) Support Network). The department also awarded a $535,013 contract for property refurbishment in Tom Price (PW11038 PB Refurbishment 77 A&B Marrinup Way Tom Price WA), a $344,000 contract for corporate application support (Provision of support, maintenance, and minor enhancements for various corporate applications (Hillcrest)), and architectural services for a Katanning fitout (Department of Communities- 33 Daping St Katanning 6725 - Fitout - Architectural Services). Furthermore, a $254,490 contract was awarded for services supporting the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children (Services to support implementation of Safe and Supported: the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2021-2031), and a Central Information Point for family and domestic violence risk assessment is being developed (DOC202621493). The lack of full compliance, as detailed in the report, suggests a systemic issue rather than isolated incidents.

Find your own data

Want to explore this thread yourself? Search the free GovScanner dashboard, or connect GovScanner directly to your favourite AI so your model can investigate WA government data for you. It is quick to connect, and it gives your AI raw access to structured WA government records instead of making it hunt through PDFs and webpages from scratch.