Kiwi carers celebrate progress for Australia's 2.6 million carers

Following extensive consultation with carers and their supporters, the Australian government has launched a report with 50 sweeping recommendations to improve the lives of the country's 2.6 million carers.

The recommendations include the establishment of a national office for carers within the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.  Other recommendations are to increase the base rate of income support for carers, and a review of means testing thresholds.  In addition, it is recommended that the Government consider consolidating portfolio responsibility for people with disabilities, people with mental illness, the frail aged, and their carers into a single Australian Government department.

Carers told the Government they desperately need more financial assistance to cope with the additional costs of disability and caring, as well as greater access to respite for time out of the caring role, said Annette Ellis MP (Member for Canberra), who chaired the committee which produced the report.

More than 1300 submissions told of carers and their families under serious financial stress, struggling to meet the everyday costs of living, including food, housing and transport.

With so many carers indicating they are in crisis, urgent action is needed, Ms Ellis said.

The committee has recommended an urgent increase in respite and in-home assistance for carers, with current demand far exceeding supply.

Better coordination of support services is also needed, with the committee recommending a one-stop-shop for information on community care services, as well as support systems that are nationally consistent and more streamlined.

The current array of support systems for carers is too complex, Ms Ellis said. 

All three tiers of government are involved.  Services cross several portfolios and are delivered through hundreds of government and non- government organisations. 

"As one carer told us, the service system is a dog's breakfast. It's confusing and frustrating for carers and increases the likelihood of administrative inefficiencies," she says.

The committee supports more options for carers who want to manage the purchase of services themselves, including self-managed individualised funding packages. It has also recommended:

A national education campaign to increase community awareness of the needs of carers;
National carer recognition legislation and a national carer action plan;
A national strategy to address the skills and training needs of carers;
Increased access to case management services for carers;
Strengthening options for flexible working arrangements for carers;
Supporting carers to find suitable employment after a period of absence;
Extension of preventative health care initiatives to include carers;
And more counselling services for carers and their families.
Carers NZ CEO Laurie Hilsgen says Australia's strong support for carers across government portfolios is something to celebrate, even if it won't directly benefit New Zealand's 420,000+ carers.

"We are moving in the right direction in our country following last year's launch of the Carers' Strategy and its five year Action Plan.  But Australia has gone much further.  It sets a new government benchmark for recognition and action for carers globally, backed by commited funding to ensure quality outcomes."

"We congratulate Carers Australia for its successful lobbying across the Tasman, and we congratulate the Australian Government for truly listening to carers."
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