Community plays a vital role in the cancer journey and Aboriginal carers care for the person with cancer in a broader kinship system, where care can often be communal and deeply tied to cultural identity, Country and spirituality. Elders, extended family, and community members may all share caregiving roles, reflecting a collective responsibility. Aboriginal carers may not self-identify as “carers” and are often invisible in data collection and service design despite playing critical roles in cancer journeys.
This presentation will explore the role of extended family carers, and thus the differences in caring for someone with cancer between Aboriginal communities and mainstream carers. Important issues Aboriginal carers report facing based on information shared from community Yarning sessions will also be discussed.