Canberra's Jim Quick is one of the hundreds of thousands of primary carers, most of whom provide 24 hour support for someone in need.

He was an ACT winner of the 2014 National Carer Awards, for taking fulltime care of his wife, Patricia, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) over 30 years ago. Mrs Quick has been in a wheelchair since 1997, and the MS has affected the nerves behind her eyes, making her legally blind.

"Sclerosis is scarring of the nerves. So your brain might send a signal to your leg to make a step but nothing happens because your leg can't get there," Mr Quick explained.

MS is an unpredictable disease affecting none of its 23,700 sufferers in Australia identically. The word 'multiple' derives from the often multiple points at which the damage occurs.

Mr Quick compared the couple's journey to slipping down a ladder, climbing back up, but never quite back to the previous point. Through facing this adversity, he said his wife displayed inspiring bravery by always "keeping up her spirits and her sense of humour."

He was humble for his care, devotion and the award he's won, acknowledging the many "marvellous carers doing marvellous things" who he believes have it tougher.

"Little kids who look after one parent, because the other has left, keep that clear," he said.

"We both work on the theory that there's always someone worse off than us, no matter how dark things are. You learn to value every day."

Informal carers such as Mr Quick provided 1.9 billion hours of care in 2015, totalling over $60 billion a year, the Carers Australia report found. Partners account for almost half of primary carers in Australia, with just under a quarter being either a parent or child.

It also claims the demand for informal care in Australia will severely outstrip supply over the next decade.

This assumption is based on the exponential rate at which people over the age of 65 with a profound disability need care, compared with the slow increase in the number of available carers.

Mr Quick spends some time looking after ageing and vulnerable widows and said some "have no family support so the public purse has to look out for them".

Studies have also shown carers are at greater risk of negative physical and mental health effects, especial full-timers. Since there is support available, "people need to know, don't be alone," Mr Quick said.

"There are lots of organisations that can help, like Carers Australia and Life without Barriers. Don't try and do it all by yourself because you can't do a good job at caring if you're burnt out."

He also encouraged people to nominate a carer they knew or the 2015 National Carer Awards, via carerawards.com. Applications close September 6.