Carers given a helping hand
A new national strategy, announced last week, will ensure the more than 2.6 million carers nationwide have the same rights, choices and opportunities as other Australians. The federal government National Carer Strategy will better support and address the needs of carers to ensure they have the opportunity to take part in all aspects of society, including work, community and family life.
A new national strategy, announced last week, will ensure the more than 2.6 million carers nationwide have the same rights, choices and opportunities as other Australians.
The new federal government National Carer Strategy will better support and address the needs of carers to ensure they have the opportunity to take part in all aspects of society, including work, community and family life. The strategy comes together with an additional $60 million worth of new funding over the next four years.
Governments, businesses and health and community professionals will be guided on how to better support carers, and how services should be “flexibly” delivered and coordinated.
The strategy includes $2.9 million to improve access to the Carer Supplement for working carers when the supplement is paid in July each year; $2.1 million to ensure fairer access to Bereavement Payment which will provide some assistance to carers receiving Carer Allowance and income support following the death of the person they are caring for; and $1.6 million for a national and targeted campaign raising awareness of the role of carers.
Launched by Minister for Families and Community Services, Jenny Macklin; the Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers, Senator Jan McLucas; the strategy is said to recognise the “invaluable contribution of carers to the Australian community.
In a joint press release, the ministers said the strategy aims to “help build a society which genuinely values and respects carers”.
“Through their hard work and sacrifice, carers greatly improve the quality of life of millions of people across the nation. However, too often this work goes unnoticed,” the ministers stated.
“The National Carer Strategy provides a framework for ensuring Australia’s carers have the support they need to balance their caring responsibilities with participation in economic, social and community life.”
In the strategy’s first year, the roll-out and development of an implementation and “success measurement plan” will begin. The four-year strategy will also be reviewed when major reforms are considered or introduced.
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