In this deeply important conversation, I sit down with Ronnie Benbow OAM, Founding Director of The Carers Foundation Australia, to shine a light on the millions of unpaid carers who quietly give so much of themselves to support the people they love.
Ronnie’s passion for carers began when she was just 17 years old and met a young boy named Tom, who was caring for his profoundly unwell mother with almost no support. His story stayed with her and planted the seed for a lifelong mission: to ask the question so many people overlook—who cares for the carers?
Ronnie also shares her own experience of becoming a carer for her husband after a near-fatal accident, while raising four boys, running businesses and supporting other family members through illness and mental health challenges. Her honesty about exhaustion, guilt, compassion fatigue and the isolation carers often experience really touched my heart.
This conversation is a reminder that carers are not only parents looking after children with disabilities or adult children supporting ageing parents. They are husbands, wives, siblings, friends and young people who may not even recognise themselves as carers.
We also speak about Ronnie’s vision to create Australia’s first healing and recovery centre for carers—a safe place where people can rest, feel supported and receive help before they reach crisis point.
Ronnie’s message is beautifully simple: the smallest acts of kindness can make the biggest difference. A cup of coffee, a hug or simply asking someone, “How are you?” can remind a person that they matter.
For every carer listening, please know that you are seen, you are valued and you do not have to carry everything alone.
Get in touch with Ronnie Benbow:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronniebenbow/
Website: https://www.thecarersfoundation.org/
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Thank you for listening to Stories of HOPE: Inspiring Humans with Kerrie Atherton.
Kerrie Atherton is an Inspiring Speaker, Professional Counsellor and Mental Health Coach. To find out more about “Stories of Hope: Worldwide”, head to https://storiesofhope.com.au/.
Purchase books in the “Stories of Hope” series, written by Kerrie: https://storiesofhope.com.au/product/stories-of-hope-australia-books/.
With thanks to:
Music: “Pilgrims” by Daniel Pratt (artlist.io)
Editing & Production: Matthew Bliss (https://www.mbpod.com)