News digest

In this story:

• New support for young carers
• Veterans mental health initiative welcomed
• Provider raises challenges with Fifield
• Victoria’s first ACP resource for health workers
• Seniors panel for NT

New support for young carers 

Assistant Minister for Social Services, Mitch Fifield is holding a series of focus groups with young carers to discuss the design of a new government initiative to help young carers pursue an education.

Senator Fifield said the Young Carer Bursary Program, worth $3 million over three years, would provide up to $10,000 each year to about 150 young carers aged 25 years and under.

“There are over 300,000 young carers in Australia who look after people with disability, people with physical or mental health issues, or older people in need of care,” Senator Fifield said. “Young carers often have to juggle part time work, caring responsibility and study. Too often, when they are pressed for time, it is their education that is pushed aside.”

With the support of Carers Australia, six focus groups are being held with young carers who live in urban, regional and rural areas, including from a variety of indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Veterans mental health initiative welcomed  

The Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) has welcomed the announcement of a new Prime Ministerial Advisory Council to focus on the mental health of war veterans.

Melanie Walker, acting CEO of the PHAA, said studies in the US indicated that at least 20 per cent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or depression. US studies also found rates of veteran suicide are much higher than previously thought.

“Australian research has shown that partners and children of Vietnam veterans experience high levels of depression, self-harm and a high suicide rate. The lessons of the past should be used to inform current and future policies and programs designed to assist veterans, their families and communities,” said Ms Walker.

Provider raises challenges with Fifield 

RSL Care said it had an “open and frank discussion” with Assistant Minister for Social Services Mitch Fifield about the direction of aged care in Australia when it hosted one of the Senator’s first Queensland site visits last week.

RSL Care CEO Craig Mills said they discussed the challenges facing the aged care sector, and the response from Mr Fifield was encouraging.

Mr Mills said he believed there was still some work to be done to improve the outcomes for older Australians requiring aged care services. “At the moment the legislative framework provides funding to a provider based on a consumer’s health profile. RSL Care wants to look at opportunities to provide services where the focus is on maintaining the wellness and independence of older Australians, so that consumers have more choice and control around the services they use.”

Mr Mills said the meeting provided opportunities for RSL Care to discuss the legislative changes required to accommodate the shift required to provide a model of wellness to older Australians.

Victoria’s first ACP resource for health workers 

Victorian Minister for Health David Davis recently launched the state’s first resource to support healthcare providers when helping patients and families discuss the choices that arise when facing a serious illness.

Advance care planning: have the conversation: A strategy for Victorian health services 2014-2018 would help health workers discuss the important issue and ensure the wishes of patients are honoured, he said.

Mr Davis said the strategy provided practical advice and information to help the health workforce work with patients and families to develop an advance care plan.

He thanked all those who shared their expertise and experience in drafting this important strategy, in particular Austin Health.

Seniors panel for NT 

The Northern Territory Government has announced the establishment of a Minister’s Advisory Council on Senior Territorians (MAC-ST).

Minister for Senior Territorians Peter Styles said expressions of interest were currently being sought for six positions on the council and encouraged motivated seniors to apply.

MAC-ST had been established to provide a voice for NT seniors on issues of interest so the government could better provide for them, he said.

“The council will provide high level and strategic advice to government as well as deliver effective linkages between government and the seniors community to improve policy outcomes.”

For more information, contact the Office of Senior Territorians on 8999 3894 or email ost@nt.gov.au