As the mother of a 13-year-old autistic son, Dalanglin Dkhar has firsthand experience as a carer and deeply understands the challenges involved.
Too often, carers are overlooked and viewed merely as people doing a job. Dhkar is determined to change this perception.
“What we go through is life-changing. It’s a commitment that consumes most of our lives. I know I will be a carer until the day I die, and many others are in the same situation,” says Dkhar, who lives in Canberra.
Driven by a strong desire to “share with the community who and what a carer is,” Dkhar’s new documentary, Unconditional, explores the experiences of four carers. Through their personal stories, the film aims to raise awareness and build empathy.
Hailing from Meghalaya, Northeast India, Dkhar believes it is crucial to shed light on the challenges carers face. When a loved one is diagnosed with a disability or illness, families often step into the role of primary caregivers, taking on lifelong responsibilities without formal training.
These carers, Dkhar explains, bear significant physical, emotional, and financial burdens, often sacrificing their own well-being and social lives. Despite their vital role, informal carers—who provide unpaid care—remain largely unrecognised.
This invisible workforce supports millions of Australians, highlighting the reality that most people will either become a carer or require care at some point in their lives. In 2018, 2.65 million carers in Australia supported more than 4 million people with disabilities and 3.8 million older Australians aged 65 and over (ABS, 2019).
“The journey of Unconditional began with my PhD research, where I aimed to provide an authentic and intimate description of a carer’s lived experience. I combined my background in documentary filmmaking with research,” shares Dkhar.
She was fortunate to have Carers ACT as the industry partner for her project.
“I am so grateful for the funding. Since I had been out of the industry for a long time, I didn’t have the necessary contacts. I then found a local production team in Canberra and focused on interviewing and engaging with the people featured in the film,” she says.
Dkhar describes the film as a social impact project. By revealing the real lives of carers beyond stereotypes, she hopes it will foster greater understanding, recognition, and awareness of this often-invisible community.
“Change starts at the community level. While research on carers exists, it often remains within academic and policy circles. My film aims to bridge this gap, making research accessible and raising awareness within communities,” says Dkhar. Her Master’s project at UTS, Sydney, ‘The Narrow Path’, won several awards and was screened internationally.
The film is also intended to help various organisations—government, educational institutions, mental health agencies, and others—better recognise and support the needs of carers.
“Due to the exhaustive and continuous nature of this role, and full commitment to the person they care for, carers have little time or energy to advocate for their own needs. Being time-poor and exhausted, most carers sacrifice social activities and community events,” says Dkhar.
She continues, “Due to their multiple roles and responsibilities, carers are always short on time to complete daily tasks, leading to stress, anxiety, and burnout. The real cost of caring is not well known by society.
“In 2015, carers saved the government about $7 billion through their unpaid work. If this work had to be done by others, it would be financially unfeasible for the government. Despite their significant sacrifices, carers never question their compensation; they dedicate their heart and soul to providing the best care for those they love.”
Unconditional was recently screened at The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM).
Dkhar, who is also involved in strategy and policy work with carer advocacy organisations, reflects, “I have learned many things from my son, such as the importance of being present in the moment. He has shown me that life is about more than just being part of the rat race; there’s so much more to experience and appreciate beyond that.”
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