The Disability Information and Resource Centre

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.

Are You a Carer or Do You Provide Services to Carers?

Come along and Have Your Say about unmet needs and service gaps for family Carers. The views collected will be included in a Carers SA independent report to Home and Community Care to help improve local service for Carers.

If you care for a family member or friend who is frail aged or is a younger person with a disability, please come along and Have Your Say at the morning Carers forum.

Are you providing service to Carers of frail older people or Carers of young people with a disability or thinking about doing so? Come along and Have Your Say in the afternoon Service Providers forum.

• Eastern Adelaide 10 February Payneham Library Complex, cnr OG Road and Turner St, Felixstow
• Upper Limestone Coast 10 March SA Ambulance Centre, North Tce, Bordertown
• 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: TBA

10:00 – 12:30: Carers only

2:00 – 4:30: Service Providers

RSVP: call 1800 815 549

MALSSA have released an information booklet for ageing carers of adult children with disabilities. The booklet provides information and guidance on ensuring that care for an adult child with a disability continues after their carer is no longer able to support them.

The booklet is available in the following languages:

• English
• Chinese
• Greek
• Italian
• Polish
• Vietnamese

The Australian Government is developing a National Carers Strategy as part of their commitment to provide carers with the recognition and support they need through the National Carer Recognition Framework.

The discussion paper, Towards a National Carer Strategy, was released on 18 October 2010 as a basis for consultation with the community. It proposes a high-level vision, aim and goals for the Strategy.

Children with Disability Australia (CDA) is seeking your feedback on the proposed Strategy and on what you think are the issues facing families/carers of children and young people with disability.

You are invited to attend a consultation to discuss the National Carers Strategy

Where

Adelaide South West Community Centre
171 Sturt Street, ADELAIDE

When

9.30-10.30am, 18 November 2010

If you would like to register to attend, or would like further information, please contact CDA on (03) 9815 1094 or 1800 222 660 (rural or interstate callers), or by email at juliat@cda.org.au.

Further information about the Strategy and a copy of the discussion paper is also available at www.cda.org.au.

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.

“Headstart” is a program designed to help GPs in South Australia understand some of the issues affecting Young People with mental health concerns. Carers of young people who have experienced mental health issues and attended GPs are sought for assistance.

Previous carers involved in the Headstart program have collaborated in the development of educational material as well as presenting their experiences as a carer in face-to-face education sessions.

“Headstart” plans to run in 4-8 locations in South Australia over the next twelve months. Assistants would be asked to participate in an orientation session as well as a negotiable number (3-8) of three hour sessions over this time.

Carers will receive compensation for their time and support with travel and meals.

If you can help with the above OR can recommend someone you think may be interested in assisting, please contact Headstart.

Contact Dr Sarah Lucy on 0428963074 or drsarahlucy@gmail.com.