Carers

Funded carers networks – Carers by Federal Electorates

Carers Alliance as a key policy demands that the federal government  fund a network for families who care.  The very nature of unpaid family caring means family carers are too often housebound because of their caring role. These families have earned the right to be heard, and a right to develop friendships with families in a similar position.

Families deliver over 92% of all accommodation and support for people with care needs of all ages. Currently families who care are isolated, feeling alone and often desperate.  This is a disaster for the mental health of the carer. Families who provide care have no forum in which to discuss their fears, their needs and the needs of the person they support.

The role of caring families in policy and planning is almost entirely absent because they have no funded grassroots voice.

We propose a Regional Disability Family Network as proposed below by the National Carers Coalition (an unfunded parent led group):

Each State and Territory to be provided with a recurrently funded regional service based upon the relevant Department of Human Services regional structure for all disability families caring for a person aged less than 65 years and will actively promote the  rights of family carers and the rights of the people that carers support.

• Regions will nominate a representative to the State Peak Disability Family Advocacy Body.

The regional Networks and liaise with state Government, agencies, carers councils and disability advocacy groups to ensure that the role, rights and needs of caring families are heard and supported.

• States will nominate representatives to the National Disability Family Peak Body.

In a changing civil society, carers do not have the same rights nor the same life possibilities as the broader community, but they do have the expectation that, as providers of 92% of all disability services nationally they are entitled to recognition by government and to be supported to have input to policy, planning and the opportunity to participate in the direction of their own lives.



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