Celebrating Carers Week 2010
Carers Day Event – at the Movies
Movie: Letters to Juliet (Admission is free for Carers & their families)
Tuesday, October 19, 2010: Capri Theatre 141 Goodwood Rd, Goodwood
Tea & Coffee from 10:15, Organ at 10:45, Movie 11:00
Bookings essential: RSVP by Friday, October 15 on 8291 5600
Park at Holy Cross Catholic Church cnr Clifton St & Goodwood Rd 100m to the South of the Capri
Passenger drop off zone at the Capri front doors for those with limited mobility
Carer Health and Wellbeing Expo
Thursday, October 21 2010: 10.00am – 4.00pm: Rundle Mall, Adelaide
Join Carers SA in the Mall for fun, information, support and a chance to meet the counselling team
For more information on these and other events around the state call Margaret on 8291 5600 for a Calendar of Events or go to www.carers-sa.asn.au.
Caring for Carers Have Your Say forums
22 September: Kangaroo Island
3 November : Port Augusta
11 November: Adelaide Hills
7 December: Southern Adelaide (Marion/Glenelg)
call Phil 8291 5600, phil@carers-sa.asn.au
Carers Australia welcomes renewed focus on National Carer Strategy
Carers Australia welcomes the appointment of Senator the Hon Jan McLucas as Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers, and congratulates the Hon Jenny Macklin MP for acknowledging the importance of the strategy.
Carers Australia now looks forward to renewed effort to progress the National Carer Strategy and National Carer Recognition Legislation.
“This important work for carers across the country was unfortunately disrupted by the election,” said Carers Australia President, Tim Moore.
“We have had months of waiting and now family carers across the country can look forward to progress on this issue and the swift passage of the legislation through parliament.”
“Carers Australia believes that there must be greater acknowledgement of all family carers at a national level, and the specific inclusion of carers under Senator McLucas’ responsibilities is a positive change,“ said Mr Moore. Carers Australia believes there should now be few barriers to the introduction of National Carer Recognition Legislation. “The legislation has had support across all parties prior to the election. We would like to see this continue, as it will provide a platform for better outcomes for family carers.” said Mr Moore.
“More broadly, we look forward to a National Carer Strategy that will result in improved support and services for Australia’s family carers.”
caa@carersaustralia.com.au www.carersaustralia.com.au
NMHCCF launches mental health consumer and carer workforce paper
A position statement on supporting and improving the mental health consumer and carer workforce in Australia will be released tomorrow by the National Mental Health Consumer & Carer Forum (NMHCCF).
Consumers and carers are increasingly being employed – particularly in mental health services – as peer support workers, advocates, consultants, research officers, experts and advisors, however they are not being properly supported.
“The future of the mental health consumer and carer identified workforce is at a critical point in Australia,” said Isabell Collins, Co-Chair of the NMHCCF.
“In many places there is a lot to be done to bring the human resource management support of these workers up to a basic standard. This is obstructing the ability of these workers to operate effectively.
“Unless managers and staff are knowledgeable about recovery approaches and working with consumer and carers, these workers are increasingly overworked, underpaid – or not paid at all!”
The NMHCCF has found that no one actually know how many consumer and carer identified worker roles exist in Australia. As a result opportunities for using their expertise are not being effectively monitored or exploited in mental health services.
“Imagine the quality of the services that we could have if these positions were being used effectively, not only in mental health services, but in the wider community, in agencies like Centrelink, in housing, as court support officers and more broadly in the criminal justice system,” Ms Collins said.
The NMHCCF statement makes five major recommendations, including a comprehensive national audit of current consumer and carer identified workers and the development of a National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Identified Workforce Strategy.
Given the key role that the mental health consumer and carer identified workforce already plays in the sector, the NMHCCF urges all governments and employers to consider the challenges facing the workforce and commit appropriate resources to its support and development.
The NMHCCF urges governments to consider the recommendations of the NMHCCF Position Statement and act.
www.nmhccf.org.au/workforce