WHAT'S NEW
It's About Time. Women, Men, Work and Family. Final Paper 2007
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) believes that
time is at the centre of the work-life balance issue. It has proposed
a new law, the Family Responsibilities and Carers Rights Act, to give
workers who have family and caring responsibilities the right to request flexible
working arrangements. The paper also discusses other measures to make
society more family-friendly. Click here
to view the paper.
Inquiry by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family and
Human Services into Balancing Work and Family
This inquiry was established to investigate the changing roles of men and women
in the family and how these changes affect the work family balance. The
committee was charged with the responsibility of recommending measures to make
the balance easier for families. Of special interest to carers is Chapter
8 which deals with the care of the elderly and family members with a disability.
The observations of the committee include the comment that "Informal
carers are making a considerable contribution to the Australian economy and
shoulder a sizeable burden that might otherwise be placed on the Australian
taxpayer." (Section 8.15) Read more of the report.
The Senate Community Affairs Committee Inquiry into the funding and operations
of the Commonwealth, State and Territories Disability Agreement (CSTDA) recently
released their Final Report. Of interest to carers are the conclusions
on unmet needs in Chapter 4. Click here
and scroll to section 4.143 for an assessment by the committee of the work done
by carers in Australia. To view the submission by Carers Australia to
the inquiry go to CSTDA
Review Submission - Carers Australia
Mental Health Unit - Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous
Affairs (FaCSIA)
FaCSIA conducted national consultations in September 2006 and as a result
will deliver additional mental health measures to increase the level of social
support and community based care to people with a mental illness or intellectual
disability and their families and carers. For more details go to the FaCSIA
website
CONFERENCES AND EVENTS
Telegroup Counselling (TGC) Training
Carers NSW is conducting training for professionals who would like to deliver
support to carers through teleconferencing. The training will take place
over a two-day period on Tuesday 3 April and Wednesday 4 April 2007. The
registration date for applications has been extended to Friday
30 March.
Date: Tuesday
3 April - Wednesday 4 April 2007
Venue: Tuscan
and Composite Rooms, Sydney Masonic Centre
Cost: $330
for nongovernment organisations
Details: flyer
or call Daryn Elston-Smith on (02) 9280 4744
Registration: form
Alzheimer's Australia 2007 Conference. A Journey of Passion
and Purpose - The Next 100 Years
Medical advances and the courage of those living with dementia have meant that
many in-roads have been made into the treatment of dementia. While recognition
has been given to dementia as a National Health Priority, plans for the next
25 years are now being made by Alzheimer's Australia. This conference
is part of the process. Carers may be particularly interested in the conference
sessions on Thursday 31 May.
Date: Tuesday
29 May - Friday 1 June 2007
Venue: Perth
Convention Exhibition Centre
Cost: $425
early bird fee for carers and people with dementia
Program details: website
Festival of International Conferences on Caregiving, Disability, Ageing and
Technology (FICCDAT)
Five related, concurrent conferences will be taking place in Toronto, Canada
in June 2007. All are focused on improving the lives of the elderly,
people living with a disability and their carers. The five
conferences deal with: Growing Older with a Disability, Technology
and Ageing, Neurorehabilitation, Caregivers as Partners in Care
and Canadian Medical and Biological Engineering.
Date: Saturday
16 June - Tuesday 19 June 2007
Place: Toronto,
Canada
Program details: website
Breast Cancer Forum April 2007
The Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service is organising
a forum on adjusting to life after a diagnosis of breast cancer. Guest
speakers will touch on the subjects of diagnosis, psychological impact, family
communication, sexuality and treatment. Details are available in this
flyer
Date: Sunday
29 April 2007
Venue: Epping
RSL Club, Rawson Street, Epping
Time: 9.00am-3.30pm
Cost: $45.00
includes lunch
Contact: Judy
at Cansupport on 9926 7810
JOURNAL ARTICLES
This is a selection of articles published recently in various health and social sciences journals. To obtain a copy of any journal article, you will need to contact your nearest library:
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Articles are under the subject headings listed below. Click on the heading to view articles about each subject. Abstracts are provided as a link under the title of each article.
Carers Generally
Carers and Paid Work
Nursing Homes and Hospitals
Carers of the Mentally Ill
Parent Carers of People with Disability
Palliative Care
Carers of those with Specific Chronic
Illnesses
Young Carers
CARERS GENERALLY
Gender, ageing and the "New Social Settlement". The importance
of developing a holistic approach to care policies
Jane Lewis
Current Sociology, 2007; 55(2): 271-286
Abstract
New Options (and Risks) in Home Care for Elderly
Jane Gross
New York Times, Published March 1 2007
Full
text
Who will care for the oldest people in our ageing society?
Jean-Marie Robine, Jean-Pierre Michel and Francois R Herrmann
British Medical Journal, March 2007; 334: 570-571
Abstract
Learning from patients
Ed Beveridge
British Medical Journal Career Focus, March 2007; 334: 83-84
Full Text
CARERS AND PAID WORK
It's about time: women, men, work and family
John von Doussa
On Line Opinion Published 14 March 2007
Full text
Why working on family matters
Mike Steketee
The Australian, 10 March 2007
Full
text
The earnings of informal carers: wage differentials and opportunity costs
Axel Heitmuellera and Kirsty Inglis
Journal of Health Economics, In Press
Abstract
NURSING HOMES AND HOSPITALS
Caring for older people in the 21st century: `Notes from a small island`
Christine Milligan
Health & Place, September 2006; 12(3): 320-331
Abstract
Lighting for people with dementia
JM Torrington and PR Tregenza
Lighting Research and Technology, March 2007; 39(1): 81-97
Abstract
CARERS OF THE MENTALLY ILL
The Mental Capacity Act 2005: a new framework for healthcare decision
making
Carolyn Johnston and Jane Liddle
Journal of Medical Ethics, February 2007; 33: 94-97
Abstract
`You've got to take them seriously': meeting information needs in mental
healthcare
Karen Clarke, John Rooksby and Mark Rouncefield
Health Informatics Journal, March 2007; 13(1): 37-45
Abstract
PARENT CARERS OF PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY
Consumers with an intellectual disability and carers. Perceptions of interactions
with banks
Susan C Hayes and Fiona B Martin
Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 2007; 11(1): 9-21
Abstract
Family-Based Short Breaks (Respite) for Disabled Children: Results from
the Fourth National Survey
Helen Cramer and Jeanne Carlin
British Journal of Social Work, Published online February 7 2007
Abstract
An exploration of the support received by people with intellectual disabilities
who have been bereaved
U Gilrane-McGarry and L Taggart
Journal of Research in Nursing, March 2007; 12(2): 129-144
Abstract
Caring for a child with Juvenile Huntington's Disease: helpful and unhelpful
support
Helen M Brewer, Jonathan A Smith, Virginia Eatough, Cath A Stanley, Neil W Glendinning
and Oliver WJ Quarrell
Journal of Child Health Care, March 2007; 11(1): 40-52
Abstract
PALLIATIVE CARE
Home-based palliative care in Sydney, Australia: the carer's perspective
on the provision of informal care
S Zapart, P Kenny, J Hall, B Servis and S Wiley
Health & Social Care in the Community, March 1 2007; 15(2): 97-107
Abstract
Key challenges and ways forward in researching the "good death": qualitative
in-depth interview and focus group study
Marilyn Kendall, Fiona Harris, Kirsty Boyd, Aziz Sheikh, Scott A Murray, Duncan
Brown, Ian Mallinson, Nora Kearney and Allison Worth
British Medical Journal, March 2007; 334: 521
Full text
Reducing
emotional distress in people caring for patients receiving specialist palliative
care. Randomised trial
Kiri Wlash, Louise Jones, Adrian Tookman, Christina Mason, Joanne McLoughlin,
Robert Blizard and Michael King
British Journal of Psychiatry, 2007; 190: 142-147
Abstract
CARERS OF THOSE WITH SPECIFIC CHRONIC
ILLNESSES
'Fighting for everything': service experiences of people severely affected
by multiple sclerosis
Polly Edmonds, Bella Vivat, Rachel Burman, Eli Silber and Irene J Higginson
Multiple Sclerosis, February 9 2007 In Press
Abstract
Information needs of the informal carers of women treated for breast cancer
K Beaver and G Witham
European Journal of Oncology Nursing, February 1 2007; 11(1): 16-25
Abstract
Patient, carer and staff experience of a hospital-based stroke service
Reg Morris, Olivia Payne and Anna Lambert
International Journal for Quality in Health Care, Published online
February 2 2007
Abstract
Family carers in stroke care: examining the relationship between problem-solving,
depression and general health.
S Yeung, MH Lui, F Ross and T Murrells
Journal of Clinical Nursing, February 1 2007; 16(2): 344-52
Abstract
Stress in caregivers of aphasic stroke patients: a randomized controlled
trial
Brian Draper, Greg Bowring, Claire Thompson, Jocelyn Van Heyst, Philip Conroy
and Julie Thompson
Clinical Rehabilitation, February 2007; 21(2): 122-130
Abstract
Person-centred dementia services are feasible, but can they be sustained?
JRF Gladman, RG Jones, K Radford, E Walker, and I Rothera
Age and Ageing, March 2007; 36(2): 171-176
Abstract
YOUNG CARERS
Global Perspectives on Children's Unpaid Caregiving in the Family. Research
and Policy on 'Young Carers' in the UK, Australia, the USA and Sub-Saharan Africa
Saul Becker
Global Social Policy, April 2007; 7(1): 23-50
Abstract
WEBSITES
WorkChoices Legislation and Carers
The Federal Government's WorkChoices legislation is now a year old. Carers
may find that in order to negotiate favourable working conditions they will
need to learn more about the art of negotiation. The Working Carers website
www.workingcarers.org.au could
help carers understand their entitlements and how to go about getting the best
deal at work. Go to the Fact Sheet link Negotiating
with your employer
Carers Australia
Carers Australia has made a number of submissions and published papers
of interest to carers in recent months. Advocacy efforts on behalf of
carers can be viewed at the Carers Australia website www.carersaustralia.com.au
Young Carers Website
Young Carers are aged 25 years and under and care for a relative or friend
with a long-term disability, mental illness or drug and alcohol dependence.
It is estimated that there are around 347,700 (Australian Bureau of Statistics,
2003) young carers in Australia. Carers NSW provides an interactive
website for young carers that gives information about emotional and practical
support such as respite and counselling, a chat discussion board and other useful
website links. Staff at Carers NSW are currently asking young carers to
send stories and poems through the website to be published. Entries
close Monday 2 April. See this flyer
for details.
Go to www.youngcarersnsw.asn.au
to see more.
RESEARCH
Balancing Work and Family in California
In July 2004 California became the first state in the USA to offer paid
family leave benefits to workers who wanted to care for a new baby or for other
family members in need. Balancing Work and Family by Rona Levine
Sherriff of the California Senate Office of Research examines how wage earners
in California have made use of the new law. The data presented
in the report looks at the trends and the possible gaps in the Paid Family Leave
Program's coverage. Read the Executive Summary here.
On February 23 this year, a new bill (S.B. 727) was introduced in California
which would expand eligibility for the Paid Family Leave law to include workers
who provide care for a seriously ill grandparent, grandchild, parent-in-law
or sibling.