Last week, I wrote about kindness — those small, deliberate acts that brighten someone’s day.
This week, I want to go deeper and talk about caring — the sustained, often invisible work that so many carry every single day.
Australia’s unpaid carers contribute an estimated $77.9 billion worth of care annually to the national economy, caring for children with disability, partners with chronic illness, ageing parents and family members in crisis. Many do so with little recognition, limited financial support and few opportunities for respite.
Many of them are women. Many are also business owners, professionals and leaders. They finish a strategy meeting and head to a medical appointment. They prepare a client proposal after settling a parent for the evening. They build companies while quietly holding families together.
This contribution doesn’t show up in revenue reports. It doesn’t attract superannuation or bonuses. Yet it holds together the social fabric of our communities.
Within Women’s Network Australia, I see this strength daily. Women who give generously of their time, their expertise and their emotional energy, often with little or no recognition.
One woman who embodies this spirit is Ronnie Benbow OAM, Co-Founder and CEO of The Carers Foundation Australia. Along with husband Michael and their sons, Ronnie has dedicated herself to recognising and supporting unpaid carers.
I have had the privilege of watching her blossom professionally through her involvement with WNA. Through the network, partnerships and confidence she has built here, Ronnie has amplified her voice, grown her impact and mobilised broader community support for carers.
This month, I invite our Queensland members to stand beside Ronnie and attend the Unsung Heroes Gala in Brisbane on 28 March — it's a memorable night and an inspiring event that celebrates carers and raises funds for greater support. If you can't attend, you can donate and support business and community leaders like WNA Member Kelli Martin and others who will swap their day jobs for the stage and microphone to give voice to the true unsung heroes, the unpaid carers.
This event is a powerful reminder that care is not small work. It is nation-building work. If you’re not in Brisbane, I encourage you to join one of our upcoming WNA events (keep reading for details). Or, reach out to another WNA member and arrange a coffee catch-up and show you care.
And to every woman quietly carrying more than most people realise — I see you. And you matter.
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