The Disability Information and Resource Centre

A free information session for family Carers is being presented by Carers SA in conjunction with the Public Trustee. To increase your knowledge and understanding of legal issues relevant to you and the person you care for.

Topics covered include Succession Planning, Wills and Estates, Power of Attorney, Medical Power of Attorney and the role of the public Advocate.

Tuesday 21 June 2011.

For more information have a look at the flyer.

Every Australian Counts has a video of Bill Shorten’s opening address to the National Disability and Carers Congress in Melbourne on 2 May 2011.

View the video here.

Growing older and worried about what will happen to the person/s you care for in the future?

‘Taking Care of Business’

Groups for Aboriginal Carers of a child or adult with a disability or other special care needs

Commencing on Monday 9th May and held every 3 weeks

Meetings to help Aboriginal carers with planning for the present and future care of a family member or other person.

For more information have a look at the flyer.

Tuesday 17 May 2011

Morning Session:

Managing challenging behaviours

Time: 10.00am – 12.00pm

Facilitated by staff from MISFA WellWays

Afternoon Session:

Respecting the sexual needs of your child

Time: 12.45pm – 2.30pm

Facilitated by staff from Shine SA

Carers are welcome to attend one or both sessions.

For more information have a look at the flyer.

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.

For Carers and those that provide services to Carers

Carers SA continues to gain much useful information for consideration by then Office for the Ageing for the Home and Community Care program through the Have Your Say forums.

The forums have been held across the state to provide valuable insight into the difficulties facing family Carers and what should be done about them.

There is a session for Carers in the morning and for Service Providers in the afternoon.

Upcoming forums are:

• Southern Adelaide: 14 April, St Francis Winery Resort, 14 Bridge St, Old Reynella
• Western Adelaide: 12 May, Lakes Resort Hotel, Brebner Drive, West Lakes
• Northern Adelaide: 18 May, John Harvey Gallery, James St, Salisbury

10:00 – 12:30: Carers: 2:00 – 4:30: Service Providers

To RSVP or to make a comment or complete postal feedback if you can’t attend call 1800 815 549 or 8291 5600 or email info@carers-sa.asn.au.

Consumers and Carers at the heart of healthcare.

Thursday, 14 April 2011

Education Development Centre
4 Milner Street
Hindmarsh SA 5007

There is a lot of talk about “patient-centred care” and the concept is a fundamental driver for change in the health care system. But what does it actually mean in practice and who is driving these changes?

This year’s conference, “Patient Centred Care: what do consumers want? Consumers and Carers at the Heart of Health Care”, will engage participants in discussion around health reform at State and Federal levels, specifically about what patient centred care means for health consumers.

What can we learn from consumers about our health care system? What needs to change for health care to be truly patient centred?

The Conference will welcome up to 200 consumers and carers including HCA members, health consumers and carers, health consumer organisations, key HCA stakeholders and South Australians from all walks of life and will put consumers in the driving seat as leaders for change in our health system.

For more information contact HCA on 08 8231 4169 or email info@hcasa.asn.au.

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.

Australia’s carers have been formally recognised for their contribution to society with the passing of the Carer Recognition Bill through the Australian Parliament on 28 October 2010.

The Act recognised in legislation “the contribution by the mums and dads, the grandparents, the sons and daughters, the brothers and sisters, partners and neighbours who every day get on with the job of caring.” according to Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Jenny Macklin and Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers Senator Jan McLucas.

Carers Australia CEO Joan Hughes said that the Act was a “significant step forward in ensuring Carers have the same opportunities to enjoy optimum health and wellbeing and social and economic participation as do other Australians.”

Australian Government agencies are now required to consider the Statement for Australia’s Carers (which can be found in te link to the Bill below) when developing human resource policies that significantly affect their employees’ caring roles. In addition, agencies with policies and programs directed to carers or the people they care for, now also need to consult with carers and report annually on action undertaken. As well, organisations funded by the Australian Government to support carers, or the people they care for, need to adopt the Statement’s principles in their interaction with carers

The Carer Recognition Bill 2010.

Towards a National Carer Strategy

The development of a National Strategy for Carers, alongside the Carer Recognition Act 2010, is central to the Australian Government’s response to the 2009 Who Cares? report on the inquiry into better support for carers.

Consultations with carers and service providers have taken place across Australia in response to a discussion paper.

For a copy of the paper, go to www.health.gov.au.