No national data is available on the characteristics of carers but it can be found in state-based carer surveys or
studies of foster carers.
In NSW, for example, the average foster carer is: female; aged 48 years; part of a couple carer household;
Australian-born; has completed Year 10 schooling (or equivalent); is not in the labour force; and has been
fostering for five years or less. Kinship carers in comparison are: more likely than foster carers to be older;
more likely to have lower incomes and to be in public rental accommodation; be reliant on Centrelink income
support and less likely than foster carers to be employed, or to have a university qualification.
Little is known about the exact number or characteristics of non-statutory informal carers in Australia. Most
studies of kinship care indicate that the majority of informal kinship carers are grandparents, while others are
aunts, uncles, older siblings and unrelated friends.