They are the people best positioned to see how funding, policy and working conditions impact on the wellbeing of the aged and disabled people in their care - and on their own quality of life.

That's why 20 Illawarra locals took to the stage to share their stories at the Wollongong community forum for the Royal Commission into Aged Care.

An often taken-for-granted workforce, they want their voices to be heard.

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Care workers experience the sector from many positions - as workers, as family members of those receiving care and, like most of us, a likely future recipient of care.

Thousands of workers have committed to use the momentum of the Royal Commission to demand more immediate changes from the government, to address the crisis in our care sector.

In their unions - United Voice and the Health Services Union - aged care and home care workers have developed clear steps that they know would create immediate improvements in the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.

These include: more time to care, a fair pay workforce, a quality workforce, funding that meets needs and home care that cares.

Families, clients and care workers are invited to support the demands, by adding their name at megaphone.org.au/petitions/fix-the-crisis-in-aged-care