{"id":"carers-recognition-act-2006","name":"Carers Recognition Act 2006","slug":"carers-recognition-act-2006","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"nt","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":29892,"registerId":"nt-carers-recognition-act-2006-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Carers Recognition Act 2006","content":"NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\nCARERS RECOGNITION ACT 2006\nAs in force at 13 November 2014\nTable of provisions\nPart 1 Preliminary matters\n1 Short title ......................................................................................... 1\n2 Commencement .............................................................................. 1\n3 Objects of Act .................................................................................. 1\n4 Definitions ........................................................................................ 1\n5 Who is a carer ................................................................................. 2\nPart 2 Compliance with Carers Charter\n6 Obligations of applicable organisations relating to Carers\nCharter............................................................................................. 3\n7 Report by reporting organisation ..................................................... 3\nPart 3 Miscellaneous matters\n8 Regulations...................................................................................... 4\n9 Review of Act................................................................................... 4\nSchedule Northern Territory Carers Charter\nENDNOTES\n\n\n\nNORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\n____________________\nAs in force at 13 November 2014\n____________________\nCARERS RECOGNITION ACT 2006\nAn Act about the recognition of carers and for related purposes\nPart 1 Preliminary matters\n1 Short title\nThis Act may be cited as the Carers Recognition Act 2006.\n2 Commencement\nThis Act commences on the date fixed by the Administrator by\nGazette notice.\n3 Objects of Act\nThe objects of this Act are:\n(a) to recognise the role of carers in the community; and\n(b) to provide for the reporting by organisations of the action\ntaken to reflect the principles of the Carers Charter in\nproviding relevant services.\n4 Definitions\nIn this Act:\napplicable organisation means:\n(a) a reporting organisation; or\n(b) an entity providing relevant services under a contract with a\nreporting organisation (other than a contract of employment);\nor\n(c) another entity declared by regulation to be an applicable\norganisation.\ncarer, see section 5.\n\nPart 1 Preliminary matters\nCarers Recognition Act 2006 2\nCarers Charter means the Northern Territory Carers Charter in the\nSchedule.\nrelevant services means services relevant to carers and the\npersons they care for.\nreporting organisation means:\n(a) an Agency that provides relevant services; or\n(b) another entity declared by regulation to be a reporting\norganisation.\n5 Who is a carer\n(1) A person is a carer if the person is an individual who provides\nongoing care or assistance to:\n(a) a person who has a disability as defined in the Disability\nServices Act 1993; or\n(b) a person who has a chronic illness, including a mental illness\nas defined in the Mental Health and Related Services\nAct 1998; or\n(c) a person who, because of frailty, requires assistance with the\ncarrying out of everyday tasks; or\n(d) a person of a class prescribed by regulation.\n(2) However, a person is not a carer if the person provides the care or\nassistance:\n(a) under a contract for services or a contract of service; or\n(b) in the course of doing community work organised by a\ncommunity organisation.\n(3) Also, a person is not a carer only because the person:\n(a) is a spouse, de facto partner, parent, guardian or decision\nmaker (as defined in section 3 of the Advance Personal\nPlanning Act 2013) of the person to whom the care or\nassistance is being provided; or\n(b) provides care to a child who is in the person's care under the\nCare and Protection of Children Act 2007.\n\nPart 2 Compliance with Carers Charter\nCarers Recognition Act 2006 3\nPart 2 Compliance with Carers Charter\n6 Obligations of applicable organisations relating to Carers\nCharter\n(1) An applicable organisation must take all practicable measures to\nensure the organisation and its officers, employees or agents:\n(a) have an awareness and understanding of the Carers Charter;\nand\n(b) take action to reflect the principles of the Charter in providing\nrelevant services of the organisation.\n(2) Without limiting subsection (1), an applicable organisation that is an\nAgency must consult carers, or entities that represent carers, in:\n(a) policy or program development; or\n(b) strategic or operational planning, relevant to carers and the\npersons they care for.\n7 Report by reporting organisation\n(1) A reporting organisation must prepare a report on the following for\neach financial year:\n(a) the performance of the organisation's obligations under this\nAct;\n(b) the organisation's compliance or non-compliance with this Act;\n(c) the organisation's compliance or non-compliance with the\nCarers Charter;\n(d) the compliance or non-compliance with the Carers Charter of\nany entity providing a service to others under a contract with\nthe organisation;\n(e) other information prescribed by regulation.\n(2) The report may be combined with another annual report of the\norganisation.\n(3) The organisation must:\n(a) give a copy of the report to the Minister within 3 months after\nthe end of the financial year to which the report relates; and\n(b) ensure a copy of the report is available for inspection by the\npublic at the organisation's office during business hours.\n\nPart 3 Miscellaneous matters\nCarers Recognition Act 2006 4\nPart 3 Miscellaneous matters\n8 Regulations\nThe Administrator may make regulations under this Act.\n9 Review of Act\nThe Minister must, within 5 years after the commencement of this\nAct:\n(a) review the operation and effectiveness of this Act; and\n(b) table a copy of the report of the review in the Legislative\nAssembly.\n\nSchedule Northern Territory Carers Charter\nCarers Recognition Act 2006 5\nSchedule Northern Territory Carers Charter\nsection 4,\ndefinition Carers Charter\n1. Carers must be treated with respect and dignity.\n2. Carers must be acknowledged as individuals with their own needs\nwithin and beyond the role of carer.\n3. The diversity of carers' individual needs must be acknowledged and\nidentified, taking into consideration cultural and linguistic differences,\nage, disability, religion, socioeconomic status, gender identification and\nwhere people live. In particular, it is important to recognise the needs of\nAboriginal carers and children and young people who are carers.\n4. Carers must receive information on their rights when dealing with\nAgencies.\n5. The role of carers must be formally recognised by including carers in\nthe assessment, planning, delivery and review of services that impact\non them and their caring role.\n6. The views and needs of carers must be taken into account along with\nthe views, needs and best interests of people receiving care when\ndecisions are made that impact on carers and their caring role.\n7. Programs and services for carers must be responsive, coordinated and\nappropriate.\n8. Complaints made by carers about services that impact on them and the\nrole of carers must be properly considered.\n\nENDNOTES\nCarers Recognition Act 2006 6\nENDNOTES\n1 KEY\nKey to abbreviations\namd = amended od = order\napp = appendix om = omitted\nbl = by-law pt = Part\nch = Chapter r = regulation/rule\ncl = clause rem = remainder\ndiv = Division renum = renumbered\nexp = expires/expired rep = repealed\nf = forms s = section\nGaz = Gazette sch = Schedule\nhdg = heading sdiv = Subdivision\nins = inserted SL = Subordinate Legislation\nlt = long title sub = substituted\nnc = not commenced\n2 LIST OF LEGISLATION\nCarers Recognition Act 2006 (Act No. 22, 2006)\nAssent date 19 September 2006\nCommenced 29 November 2006 (Gaz G48, 29 November 2006, p 2)\nStatute Law Revision Act 2009 (Act No. 25, 2009)\nAssent date 1 September 2009\nCommenced 16 September 2009 (Gaz G37, 16 September 2009, p 3)\nAdvance Personal Planning (Consequential Amendments) Act 2013 (Act No. 36, 2013 )\nAssent date 19 December 2013\nCommenced pt 3: 5 February 2014 (Gaz G5, 5 February 2014, p 2);\nrem: 17 March 2014 (Gaz S14, 17 March 2014)\nStatute Law Revision Act 2014 (Act No. 38, 2014)\nAssent date 13 November 2014\nCommenced 13 November 2014\n3 GENERAL AMENDMENTS\nGeneral amendments of a formal nature (which are not referred to in the table\nof amendments to this reprint) are made by the Interpretation Legislation\nAmendment Act 2018 (Act No. 22 of 2018) to: ss 1 and 5.\n4 LIST OF AMENDMENTS\ns 5 amd No. 25, 2009, s 10; No. 36, 2013, s 139; No. 38, 2014, s 2\npt 4 hdg exp No. 22, 2006, s 14\nss 10 – 14 exp No. 22, 2006, s 14","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This version does not materially change the core scope set out in the original Act: it continues to recognise carers, sets a Charter, imposes an awareness/consultation duty and requires annual reporting (ss 3, 6–7, Schedule). Amendments reflected in the reprint are primarily definitional and technical (for example, aligning exclusions with the Advance Personal Planning Act definitions) rather than expanding the Act's substantive purpose. The principal mechanism that could expand practical scope is the regulations power and ability to declare additional organisations or classes of carers (s 4, s 8), but that is a delegated power provided in the original framework rather than a substantive change introduced in this version."},"complexity_factors":["Short Act: 9 substantive sections plus a Schedule (limited length).","Approximately 5 defined terms in the interpretation section (applicable organisation, carer, Carers Charter, relevant services, reporting organisation) (s 4).","Cross-references to external Acts for definitions: Disability Services Act 1993, Mental Health and Related Services Act 1998, and Advance Personal Planning Act 2013 (s 5).","A small number of operational duties: one flexible duty to take 'all practicable measures' and one consultation duty for Agencies (s 6).","Single, straightforward annual reporting regime with timing and publication requirements (s 7).","Power to extend scope by regulation (s 4, s 8) introduces conditional complexity beyond the text.","Definitions include several exclusions and an exceptions clause in s 5 (subsections (2) and (3)), but these are simple and limited.","Schedule contains an 8-point Charter (principles rather than procedural rules)."],"plain_english_summary":"**What this law does (mechanics)\n\n- Recognises carers and sets out a statement of principles called the Northern Territory Carers Charter (the Charter) that describes how carers should be treated (Schedule; s 4).\n- Defines who is a \"carer\" for the purposes of the Act, and lists exclusions (s 5).\n- Requires applicable organisations to \"take all practicable measures\" to ensure staff and agents are aware of the Charter and act in ways that reflect its principles when providing relevant services (s 6).\n- Requires Agencies (a defined class of reporting organisation) to consult carers or carer-representative bodies when developing policy, programs or plans relevant to carers (s 6(2)).\n- Requires reporting organisations to prepare an annual report about their performance and compliance with the Act and the Charter, to give that report to the Minister within three months of the end of the financial year, and to make it available for public inspection (s 7).\n- Gives the Administrator power to make regulations and requires a statutory review of the Act within five years of commencement (ss 8–9).\n\nWho is affected\n\n- Primary subjects: carers as defined by s 5 (people providing ongoing care to someone with disability, chronic illness, frailty, or another prescribed class).\n- Duty-bearers: \"applicable organisations\" — which includes reporting organisations (Agencies that provide relevant services), contractors providing relevant services under contract (other than employees), and any other entities declared by regulation (s 4).\n- Other affected parties: Ministers, the Administrator (who makes regulations), and the public (who can inspect reports) (ss 4, 7, 8).\n\nWhy it matters (stated purpose and practical effects)\n\n- The Act formally recognises carers and sets out expectations for how organisations that provide services relevant to carers should behave (s 3; Schedule).\n- Practically, it creates a low‑intensity compliance regime: organisations must promote awareness of the Charter internally and report annually on how they reflected the Charter when delivering services (s 6–7). Agencies must consult carers on relevant policy/ planning (s 6(2)).\n\nHow the law works in practice and what that implies\n\n- Obligations are framed as a proportional standard: organisations must take \"all practicable measures\" (s 6(1)). That is a flexible, context‑sensitive duty rather than a detailed prescriptive rule. It gives organisations room to decide what steps are reasonable in their circumstances, but also makes compliance a matter of judgment and record‑keeping.\n- Reporting imposes an administrative cost: preparing, lodging and publishing an annual statement on compliance (s 7). That cost falls on reporting organisations and may extend to contractors whose compliance with the Charter must be reported (s 7(1)(d)).\n- The regulations power (s 8) and the ability to declare additional organisations or classes of carers by regulation (s 4) mean the scope of obligations can be expanded without amending the primary Act. That creates implementation flexibility, and also some uncertainty for organisations that might later be captured by regulation.\n\nWho pays, who decides, what behaviour changes\n\n- Who pays: applicable organisations bear the direct cost of staff training/awareness measures, consultation processes, and annual reporting (ss 6–7). Contractors delivering services under contract may incur corresponding obligations if the prime organisation reports on them (s 7(1)(d)).\n- Who decides: organisations choose what \"practicable measures\" to adopt; Agencies must consult carers on relevant matters (s 6(2)). The Administrator (executive) may make regulations to add organisations or classes, and the Minister receives reports and must arrange a statutory review (ss 8–9).\n- Behavioural changes: organisations are likely to formalise awareness/ training about the Charter, introduce or record consultation with carers for policy/planning, and adopt reporting systems to document compliance.\n\nCosts, incentives, trade-offs and implementation risks (testing the Act's stated purpose)\n\n- Costs and incentives: the Act creates mainly administrative compliance costs for organisations (training, consultation, reporting). Those costs are diffuse across many organisations but can be concentrated on Agencies and on contractors required to demonstrate Charter compliance to a prime reporting organisation (s 7(1)(d)).\n- Trade‑offs and opportunity cost: time and budget spent on consultation and reporting could be taken from direct service delivery if organisations do not add resources. Conversely, clearer engagement may reduce costly service mismatches.\n- Implementation risk and discretion: the open standard \"all practicable measures\" (s 6(1)) and the power to declare entities by regulation (s 4, s 8) concentrate implementation discretion in organisations and in the executive. This reduces legal certainty about what counts as compliance and shifts emphasis to internal policy and record‑keeping.\n- Compliance burden on small providers: smaller contractors may face disproportionate administrative burdens if required to be reported against by a reporting organisation (s 7(1)(d)).\n- Transparency: public availability of reports (s 7(3)(b)) increases external scrutiny, which can incentivise compliance but also creates reputational risk for organisations.\n\nKey sections to consult quickly: definitions and scope (s 4), who is a carer (s 5), obligations (s 6), reporting (s 7), Charter text (Schedule)."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains focused on its original purpose of recognising carers and creating accountability mechanisms for government agencies regarding the Carers Charter. The amendments shown in the endnotes are minor and technical—updating references to other legislation (such as the Advance Personal Planning Act 2013) and removing expired transitional provisions. The scope has not expanded beyond the original intent of symbolic recognition plus administrative compliance."},"complexity_factors":["Short statute: only 9 substantive sections plus a Schedule","Simple structure: 3 Parts (Preliminary, Compliance, Miscellaneous) with clear sequential numbering","Limited defined terms: only 4 key definitions (applicable organisation, carer, Carers Charter, relevant services, reporting organisation) with 'carer' having its own detailed section","Minimal cross-referencing: only references to external Acts (Disability Services Act 1993, Mental Health and Related Services Act 1998, Advance Personal Planning Act 2013, Care and Protection of Children Act 2007) for definitional purposes","Straightforward obligations: 'take all practicable measures' and annual reporting requirements use standard administrative language","No nested exceptions: Section 5's exclusions (who is NOT a carer) are clearly listed in subsections (2) and (3) without complex conditional layering","Non-technical language: The Carers Charter principles are expressed in plain English without legal jargon","No complex procedural mechanisms: No appeals processes, tribunals, or intricate compliance pathways"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this law does:**\n\nThis is the Northern Territory's **Carers Recognition Act 2006**. It creates a legal framework to formally recognise and support people who provide unpaid care to others in the community.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n\n- **Carers**: People who provide ongoing unpaid care to someone with a disability, chronic illness (including mental illness), or frailty requiring help with everyday tasks. Importantly, this excludes paid care workers and volunteers doing organised community work. It also excludes parents/guardians caring for their own children in the usual sense, or people acting purely in their family role (spouse, parent, etc.)—unless they're providing care beyond those normal duties.\n- **Government agencies and service providers**: \"Applicable organisations\" (mainly NT Government agencies and their contractors) must comply with the Carers Charter.\n- **Reporting organisations**: Specific agencies that must submit annual reports on how they're implementing the Charter.\n\n**What it requires:**\n\n1. **The Carers Charter** (attached to the Act) sets out 8 principles, including:\n   - Treating carers with respect and dignity\n   - Recognising carers have needs beyond their caring role\n   - Including carers in decisions about services\n   - Considering cultural diversity, especially Aboriginal carers and young carers\n   - Ensuring complaints by carers are properly considered\n\n2. **Organisations must**:\n   - Make sure staff know about the Charter\n   - Take practical steps to apply Charter principles when delivering services\n   - Government agencies must consult carers when developing policies and plans\n   - Submit annual reports on compliance (which must be publicly available)\n\n3. **Review**: The Minister must review the Act's effectiveness within 5 years of it starting.\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nBefore this law, carers had no formal recognition in NT legislation. This Act puts their role on the statutory map, creates accountability mechanisms for government agencies, and establishes principles to guide how services treat carers. It's not about giving carers individual legal rights to sue (the Act doesn't create enforceable private rights), but about systemic change—ensuring government bodies think about carers when designing and delivering services.\n\n**Key limitation**: The Act doesn't provide direct benefits, payments, or individual enforcement rights. It's primarily about cultural change and administrative accountability within government."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/carers-recognition-act-2006","history":"/api/acts/carers-recognition-act-2006/history","analysis":"/api/acts/carers-recognition-act-2006/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/carers-recognition-act-2006/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/carers-recognition-act-2006/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/carers-recognition-act-2006/documents"}}