Caring for carers

A new resource which details what community care staff can do to best support carers, has just been released.

More than 2.6 million carers throughout Australia are set to benefit from a new federal government National Carer Strategy, announced yesterday, which comes together with $60 million worth of new funding over the next four years.

The strategy, which is the first of its kind in Australia, specifies how governments, businesses and health and community professionals can better support carers in the community and how services should be delivered in a coordinated and flexible fashion.

It aims to address the needs of carers and help to ensure that they have the opportunity to take part in all aspects of society, including the chance to participate fully in work, community and family life.

New funding delivered under the strategy includes $2.9 million to improve access to the Carer Supplement for carers who are working when the supplement is paid in July each year, which will help carers to maintain paid employment.

It also features $2.1 million to ensure fairer access to Bereavement Payment, which will provide some assistance to carers receiving Carer Allowance and an income support payment at the difficult time following the death of the person they are caring for; and $1.6 million for a national and targeted campaign to raise awareness of the role of carers.

The strategy was launched by Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin; the Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers, Senator Jan McLucas at Carers Victoria, Footscray.

“The National Carer Strategy will help to ensure carers have the same rights, choices and opportunities as other Australians,” said the ministers in a joint press release.

“It also aims to help build a society which genuinely values and respects carers.

“Through their hard work and sacrifice, carers greatly improve the quality of life of millions of people across the nation. However, too often this work goes unnoticed. The National Carer Strategy recognises the invaluable contribution of carers to the Australian community.”

The strategy is the second element of the Australian Government’s National Carer Recognition Framework. It contains six priority areas for action – recognition and respect; information and access; economic security; services for carers; education and training; and health and wellbeing.

“The National Carer Strategy provides a framework for ensuring Australia’s carers have the support they need to balance their caring responsibilities with participation in economic, social and community life.”

Year one in the four year strategy will see the start of a funding roll-out and the development of an implementation and success measurement plan.

President of Carers Australia, Tim Moore, said he was pleased that the government took into consideration the views of carers when forming the strategy. Because of such far-reaching carer engagement, he said, the strategy will be able to make a tangible difference to the lifes of carers.

“What is required in the months and years ahead are the clear articulation of initiatives including the setting of measurable outcomes and clear time frames,” Mr Moore said.

“Only in this way can we ensure that the lives of Australia’s 2.6 million carers be improved.”

According to the government, the strategy will be reviewed at key points – particularly when major reforms are considered or introduced.

The outcomes from the Productivity Commission inquiries into disability care and support and aged care will also have an impact on the further development and implementation of the strategy.

The Australian Government has outlined that it will continue to work collaboratively with carers, their representative organisations, the National People with Disability and Carers Council, and state and territory governments to implement the National Carer Strategy.

For more information about the National Carer Strategy, click here
 

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