The Disability Information and Resource Centre

Carers SA Invites Carers & Their families and Carer Groups to:

2011 Carers Day – at the Movies

This event is part of the National Carers Day celebrations being held across Australia to recognize family carers.

Movie: Water for Elephants (Admission is free for carers & their families)

Date: Tuesday, October 18 2011

At: Capri Theatre 141 Goodwood Rd, Goodwood SA

Time: Tea & Coffee from 10.30, Organ at 10:45, Movie 11.00am

Bookings essential. RSVP by Thursday, October 13 Ph: 8291 5600

Carer groups are welcomed but please RSVP ASAP to secure your seats.

Passenger drop off zone at the Capri Theatre front doors for those with limited mobility.

Limited parking for drivers dropping off those with limited mobility at:
Goodwood Community Centre, Rosa St off Goodwood Rd.

Get the full Carers Week Program of events here.

Carers SA-Northern Country Carers have 2 carer retreats coming up.

Pichi Richi Retreat

When: June 27 – 29 2011

Where: Pichi Richi Park (between Pt Aug & Quorn)

Expressions of interest are required before May 20 2011.

Full details here.

Willow Springs Retreat

When: July 26 – 29 2011

Where: Willow Springs, a working Seep Property situated 21 km’s north of Wilpena Pound in the Flinders Ranges.

Expressions of interest are required before June 1 2011.

Full details here.

The next edition of Carers SA’s quarterly magazine, SA Carer, will include a feature on male carers.

Carers SA would be interested in hearing from you:

• any comments about issues facing male carers, and what services there should be for male carers
• stories, including photos or other pictures, of any work you are doing with/for male carers
• your carer story as a male carer
• any research on male carers you may know about

Please forward any contributions to Carers SA by Friday 11 February.

Tel: (08) 8291 5600 Email: Phil@carers-sa.asn.au

Fax: (08) 8271 6388 Web: www.carers-sa.asn.au

58 King William Rd, Goodwood, SA, 5034
PO Box 410 Unley, SA 5061

Carers SA has a new booklet available for educational professionals to help them understand the needs of young carers and how to better support young carers to be at school, stay at school and succeed at school. The booklet is free to teachers, school counselors and other school staff.

The complementary Young Carers in Education workshop can be delivered to South Australian schools by Carers SA Young Carer Workers.

For more information on booklets and workshops call Emma Johnson on 8291 5600 or email emma.johnson@carers-sa.asn.au.

The project is funded by the Department of Education and Children’s Services.

As part of Mental Health Week 2010, Carers SA is presenting a program consisting of 3 sessions showcasing Carers SA’s services and model in supporting Carers of people with mental illness. This session has been designed specifically for service providers and family carers. Places are limited and bookings are essential.

Enterprise House, 136 Greenhill Road, Unley

14 October 2010, 9.15 to 11.45 (includes morning tea).

RSVP Carers SA 8291 5600.

South Australia’s leading provider of support for family carers, Carers SA, has won a top award for its ‘Supporting Carers of People with Mental Illness’ program at the Australia and New Zealand Mental Health Services Achievement Awards.

Carers SA received the Silver Award for Family/Carer Provided Services – the highest of its category –at the biggest conference for Mental Health Service professionals in the Asia Pacific region on Wednesday 15 September 2010.

Rosemary Warmington, Chief Executive Officer of Carers SA, said the award highlighted the outstanding work that is being done across rural, regional and metropolitan South Australia to support carers in the community.

“This is a truly innovative program. The program covers a number of South Australian regions including the Eyre Peninsula, Murray Mallee, the South East and Western metropolitan Adelaide to improve resources and support for carers,” Ms Warmington said.

“Carers SA, in partnership with the carers themselves, is actively working to help overcome the stigma and isolation that caring for a family member or friend with mental illness can often cause and international recognition of this work is truly rewarding.”

The ‘Supporting Carers of People with a Mental Illness’ program, funded by Australian Government (FaHCSIA, Mental Health Community Based Program), is the first of its kind in this State to provide support specifically to carers of people with mental illness who live in metropolitan, regional and remote areas

The program currently provides direct support to 782 carers – including 211 young carers who care for a person with a mental illness, and indirectly supports more than 2200 carers and gives carers access to education and skills training and mentoring services. Furthermore, it works to gain greater recognition within local communities for the tireless work of carers for people with a mental illness.

Ms Warmington said the pressures on people caring for those with a mental illness are significant, and can have a major impact on the health of the carer.

“Research suggests carers experience startling levels of depression and anxiety. In fact, more than one third of carers were found to be severely or extremely severely depressed and studies have shown any level of consistent, daily, immediate caring responsibility is sufficient to severely damage wellbeing,” Ms Warmington said.

“Through this important and significant program, we have seen a marked increase in the number of people accessing the services and support they need.

“Carers SA is incredibly proud of the outcomes this program has delivered, and we are committed to continuing this work and further increasing the number of carers we reach and assist.”

The Mental Health Services Conference (The MHS) is the largest mental health and addiction services conference in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. The MHS aims to promote positive attitudes about mental health and mental illness, and to stimulate debate that challenges the boundaries of knowledge and ideas about mental health care.

The purpose of Carers SA is to improve the lives of the 222,700 family carers across South Australia. Carers SA provide important services including counselling, advice, advocacy, education and training to carers. The organisation also promotes the recognition of carers and represents their interest and needs to governments, businesses and the public.

For more information visit www.carersaustralia.com.au

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

Carers SA have released their Northern Country Carers Newsletter for August 2010.

Carers Australia have released the following:

Carers Australia welcomes National Carers Recognition legislation

Carers Australia welcomes the tabling of the National Carer Recognition Bill in Parliament today as an important first step in the introduction of a broader framework to support carers.

Carers Australia CEO Joan Hughes said “This legislation is an important landmark and one that we have been working towards for some time.

“We believe all carers should have the same rights and opportunities as other Australians to enjoy optimum health and social wellbeing and to participate in family, social and community life. It is encouraging that this is reflected under the principles of the legislation.

“While this legislation is a valuable progression, many carers still struggle financially, find themselves socially isolated and have difficulties accessing appropriate services. It is important that we continue to work towards the development and implementation of more practical measures and supports.”

The National Carer Recognition Bill consists of ten core principles that acknowledge the diversity of carers and identify key areas to be addressed in a national carers strategy including health and wellbeing, financial stability and employment and education participation.

Carers Australia is particularly pleased to see a principle devoted to young carers. “Young carers have now been identified as a group at risk of long-term disadvantage,” said Ms Hughes.

“We are very excited about the prospect of changes in policy and program areas that will address and support the needs of young carers.”

This legislation is just one part of a broader National Carer Recognition Framework announced by Jenny Macklin, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, in October of last year.

Under this framework the government has committed to the establishment of national goals and a national carers strategy with the aim of improving policy and service delivery to better support carers.

It is important that this legislation is given a quick passage through both houses of Parliament so we can begin to work towards the realistic changes carers need. All political parties need to come together to ensure that this long awaited legislation is passed.

We look forward to working with the government to implement a nationally consistent and supportive framework which delivers tangible change for carers across Australia.

For media inquiries contact Edward Allpress on 02 6122 9917 or 043 4805 194

CARER RECOGNITION BILL 2010 (FED)

Second reading speech by the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, introducing the legislation.

The Bill is available here.

The Explanatory Memorandum is available here.

Carers SA have released their Service Providers Network Newsletter, March 2010 edition.