June 24, 2009
The national program for Young Carers in Australia is in crisis, according to Carers Australia CEO Joan Hughes.
She was speaking at the launch of the “Bring It! 2008″ forum report which recommends steps to better support and recognise Australia’s young carers. Young carers are carers under 26 who support family members and friends who have a disability, mental illness, chronic conditions, terminal illness or who are frail. There are some 380,000 young carers, including 170,600 under the age of 18.
“Young Carers are in urgent need of support and assistance if they are to have the same rights, choices and opportunities as other young Australians,” Ms Hughes said.
“Young carers can’t wait until the next Budget for help. To delay any longer is to risk sacrificing the future of these caring young people who make such as difference to our society.”
“The government has talked a lot about social inclusion, education and training. No additional funds were allocated in the recent Budget to extend the Young Carer Program and better help young carers. ”
The “Bring It! 2008″ forum report shows that carers need continuing, flexible support and services, equal access to these as well as services that are culturally and age appropriate and based on best practice.
The report urges all professional groups and agencies to have policies and guidelines which clearly include young carers. Likewise, mandatory awareness training across all groups who deal with carers, including doctors, teachers, social workers and those in hospitals and the health industry.
“It has some great recommendations from participants including young carers, such as a ‘no wrong door’ policy which means that no matter how the person or family comes in contact with government and support agencies, they should get appropriate help,” Ms Hughes said.
“It also recommends a ‘whole of family’ approach, so that the whole family’s needs are assessed, regardless of which family member first contacts an agency.
“Sadly, some agencies can forget that young carers can have adult-sized responsibilities when caring, and they aren’t always treated with dignity and respect by all areas of government.”
Ms Hughes said young carers were the future of our society, yet we were “ignoring their very real needs as carers.”
