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National
Carers Week 2008
Carers Week (19 - 25 October) began with a launch in Canberra attended by the Prime Minister, carer ambassadors, parliamentarians and carers. Prime Minister Rudd delivered an address highlighting the important contribution that carers make to society, saying "The Government's commitment to seniors, to carers and to people with a disability is deeply held." Read the transcript of his speech. During the launch, the Prime Minister was also presented with the results of the Carers Virtual 2020 survey report. See details of the report below. An analysis of the financial support offered to carers during the launch is outlined below. Another highlight of Carers Week was the launch of the new national Carers National website.
Carers NSW was approached by over 200 groups wishing to celebrate Carers Week. Grants were made to support the celebrations and a calendar of carers' events can be viewed on the Carers NSW website.
Carers Virtual 2020 survey report
Entitled Don’t wait: carers say listen and act now, this report comprises the comments and analysis made online to the Carers Virtual 2020 Summit website hosted by Carers Australia during the month of August 2008.
Participants put forward ideas and suggestions about how to improve the lives of carers and those they care for. The ideas are grouped into the following areas: representation and advocacy; funding; accommodation; services; financial assistance; employment; and rights and other
entitlements.
Read the report.
$4.8 billion payment to pensioners, seniors and carers
The Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Treasurer Wayne Swan and the Minister for Families Jenny Macklin, said the Federal Government will deliver a $4.8 billion lump-sum payment to Australia's 4 million pensioners, carers, seniors and veterans. The announcement is part of a $10.4 billion Economic Security Strategy to support families during the global financial crisis. The payment is also intended to provide families with immediate financial help in the lead up to comprehensive reform of the pension system. (See below - Review of Australia's pension, tax and transfer system).
Elena Katrakis, Carers NSW CEO, welcomed this announcement. Carers receiving the Carer Payment will receive a one-off lump sum payment of $1,400 for singles and $2,100 for couples. Carers receiving the Carer Allowance will also receive $1,000 for each eligible person being cared for. Read Carers NSW media release.
Review of Australia's pension, tax and transfer system
Carers Australia has made a submission to the Pension Review being conducted by Federal Treasury. The submission maintains that while the public rhetoric about the need to help carers is strong, the tangible reality is insufficient. The Carers Australia report recommends an increase in the base rate of pensions and allowances; an increase in rental assistance, utilities allowance and pharmaceutical allowance and the introduction of a superannuation scheme as well as a single concession card. Click here to view the submission.
Carers Australia CEO, Joan Hughes, commenting earlier on The Urgent Relief for Single Pensioners Bill, called for financial support for carers. Ms Hughes proposed a lump-sum payment of $700 as an urgently needed measure to assist the 862,000 recipients of the Carer Payment and the Disability Support Pension until the findings of the Pension Review are known in February. This is on the back of calls by pensioners and the Federal Opposition to raise the aged pension rate immediately. Read the statement.
According to a new report by the the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey,
poverty is defined as having a household income of less than 50 per cent of the median household income, not including the family home. About half of all elderly singles are living below the poverty line by this definition. See the report.
Inquiry into Better Support for Carers - Federal Parliament
This inquiry continues to take submissions. While acknowledging the many benefits that flow from caring, the Carers Australia submission argues that on top of deteriorating health and social exclusion experienced by carers, the future looks grim for those with a caring role. Trends in society have made it imperative that questions regarding caring be resolved. To view the submission, click this link. Other submissions are also available online.
New
South Wales
Maintaining Respite Capacity
Carers NSW welcomes the revision of the Maintaining Respite Capacity Policy Draft 2.9 by the NSW Department of Ageing, Diability and Home Care (DADHC). The new version of the policy now recognises the important role of carers as well as more thoughtfully addressing the complex issue of what happens when a person remains in a DADHC run respite facility past their allocated time. While there are some important details about the policy still to be clarified, Carers NSW is pleased that the policy has been changed to better acknowledge carers and to emphasise the Department's committment to ensure that carers have access to the respite that they need within the resources available.
Supported accommodation in NSW – policy changes
The NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care (DADHC) recently made changes to policies governing the allocation of places in supported accommodation. These changes mirror those made to the provision of respite places for families of people living with disability. Families and community organisations expressed concern at the harsh provisions of the policy which states that “supported accommodation will only be considered after all other options have been exhausted”. This places the responsibility of care on the family for children with disability well into their adulthood. Carers NSW believes that these expectations are unreasonable and that families deserve better support. A response has been prepared to these policy changes and in turn DADHC has decided to re-draft the policy. Carers NSW is invited to attend the roundtable consultations with representatives from both the Department and the non-government sector at the end of October.
The ethics of care
What ethical challenges do we as a society face in meeting the needs of both the carer and the cared-for? From 6 September to 31 October 2008 Carers NSW, St James Ethics Centre and Macquarie Group Foundation conducted a national conversation about the ethics of caring in our society. Who Cares? The Ethics of Caring in a Good Society:
national conversation, national action began with 50 focus groups followed by an online survey. The report, due December 2008, will be written in a narrative style using the stories from the focus groups and the survey. While the opportunity to contribute to the conversation has now finished, those who are interested in the project can obtain more information from this website.
NSW State Budget
Carers NSW makes proposals to the NSW State Government to improve the lives of carers. A key opportunity to affect change is at budget time. While a mini-budget is due on 11 November, Premier Nathan Rees has said the priority of the mini-budget will be to ensure NSW retains its current AAA rating in uncertain financial times. Carers NSW is preparing a submission to the NSW Treasury for the State Budget 2009-2010 due in April 2009. Leading up to this time, keep an eye on the Carers NSW website for details about how carers can continue to be supported in NSW.
International
UK - Right care, Right deal
Right care, Right deal is the new national campaign launched by Carers UK aiming at building public awareness and support for brave and innovative solutions to the social care system for older and disabled people, their families and carers. With the UK Government indicating that social care is an urgent political priority, the campaign will urge the
government to renew its vision for the future of social care in the UK. Visit the website at www.rightcare.org.uk
Australian Society for the Study of Intellectual Disability (ASSID) Principles, Policies and Practices: The Search for Evidence
This conference aims to promote an understanding of intellectual and developmental disabilities while bringing together people with an interest in the field. The conference will maintain the link between high standards of practice and an evidence-based approach.
When: Monday 24 - Wednesday 26 November 2008
Where: University of Melbourne
Details: conference website
National Conference on Caring 2009 - Building the future with family carers
Hosted by Carers Queensland to celebrate their 20th anniversary, this conference will focus on four main themes: caring as a shared responsibility; carers and employment; carer legislation and innovative carer support.
When: Monday 9 - Tuesday 10 March 2009
Where: Royal Pines Resort, Gold Coast
Details: Watch the national website for details coming soon
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) report 2008 - A profile of carers in Australia
In October, ABS released a report that provides demographic information on the characteristics and activities of carers. The preface to the publication explains that carers have become a key social policy concern because they enable older people to 'age in place' and enable people with a disability or long-term illness to remain in the community. Information in this publication was drawn from the 2006 Census of Population and Housing and from three ABS surveys.
The report is broken up into sections including: the carer population; carers across Australia; use of time; social participation and wellbeing; employment, income and housing and sources of support and use of respite care. See the report online at the ABS website.
Women carers in financial stress report
Launched during Carers Week 2008, this report looks at the lifetime health and economic consequences of caring. It has been prepared by the National Centre of Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM) for Carers Australia, and sponsored by Commonwealth Financial Planning. Comparisons are made between the health status and financial well-being of female carers and other women who have no caring responsiblilites. The report finds that primary carers report their health as being only fair or poor compared with other women of similar age and that fewer carers are engaged in paid employment. Read the full report.
Delivering non-hospital health care
The Audit Office of NSW has produced an analysis of health care that is provided outside of hospitals in NSW. Their report finds that nearly 45,000 patients per year are being treated outside of hospitals and that the programs providing patient care are operated at half the cost of hospital care, costing $55 million less each year. The key findings illustrate that clinical outcomes are as good for patients as in-hospital care. The Audit Office recommends that NSW Health expand its out-of-hospital initiatives as one of the practical alternatives to help meet growing demand for health services. Read the report online.
How to access journal articles
To obtain journal articles cited in this e-bulletin,
phone your local library or nearest professional library. For
a list of health libraries in NSW, visit www.ciap.health.nsw.gov.au and enter "libraries" in the search box.
A Impact of accreditation on residential aged care
Accreditation has had a positive effect on the lives of older people living in aged care homes, according to a series of recent reports from the Australian Governmentl Department of Health and Ageing. However, the reports also identify the need to develop mechanisms to measure improvements in aged care facilities. The six reports are available on the Department's website.
Aged care trends and challenges
A recently released Productivity Commission report has called for the provision of aged care services to reach much larger numbers of people over the next few decades. The type of care that needs to be provided must cater for a more diverse range of elderly people than has been the case in the past due to the personal preferences and affluence of Australia's ageing population. Download the report online.
Carer representation on the NSW Youth Advisory Council
The NSW Youth Advisory Council provides advice to the Minister for Youth, Graham West. Carers NSW has been invited to voice ideas on pursuing an education while performing a caring role. During September the Council held consultations around NSW in order to better advise the Minister on ways the NSW Government could better support young carers who are studying. For more information about the Council visit their website.
Carer representation on the National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum (NMHCCF)
NMHCCF aims to promote national partnerships for mental health consumers and carers at all levels of government and within the community. Carers Australia is represented on the Forum by Pat Sutton (South Australia) and Helen Charlesworth (Western Australia). For more information about the Forum visit their website.
Flexible workplaces for mature aged workers
Announcing the completion of the State Government's Mature Age Carers in the Workforce project, the NSW Industrial Relations Minister, John Hatzistergos, said that employers should consider creating more flexible workplaces to cater for workers with caring responsibilities. Workforce shortfalls over the next 20 years will need to be met by older workers. By 2016 over 80 per cent of labour market growth will come from people over 45. View the media release.
Journal
article
The right to request flexible working: A 'very British' approach to gender (in)equality?
Sue Himmelweit
Australian Bulletin of Labour, 33 (2): 246 - 263
This paper examines the impact of flexible working arrangements for parents in the UK. The author argues that a trend towards a universal care-giver/worker model is the most effective way to promote gender equality.
Abstract
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) - Barriers and incentives to labour force participation
This report found that in 2006-07 there were 1.7 million people who either wanted a job or additional work hours.
The barriers these people reported to finding work were population characteristics such as their caring responsibilities, a lack of qualifications or perceived discrimination. Read more.
USA - McCain, Obama and long-term care
For an analysis of what the two US presidential candidates have to say about work/life balance, visit their websites:
Barack Obama's website, and click on 'family';
John McCain's website, and search under 'health care'.
Women carers in financial stress
This report looks at the lifetime health and economic consequences of caring. Read more in the Publications section of this e-bulletin.
Palliative care practice in NSW
Palliative care practice is under review in NSW. Earlier this year Carers NSW was asked to join the Palliative Care Advisory Group and provide a response on the Draft NSW Palliative Care Strategic Framework Discussion Paper 2008-2012.
The Framework will set the direction for palliative care service planning and provision in NSW for the next five years. It will inform the NSW Palliative Care Service Development Plan to be implemented by the Statewide Centre for the Improvement of Palliative Care (SCIP). In turn, SCIP provides guidance and direction for the development of Area Health Service palliative care service plans. Feedback is required by 31 October.
World Hospice and Palliative Care Day
World Hospice and Palliative Care Day was held on Saturday 11 October. The President of Palliative Care Australia said "Palliative care, which provides relief of avoidable pain at the end of life, is a human right for all." Read the media release.
Council of Australian Governments (COAG) - reform of mental health, aged care and disability services
The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) met in early October and issued a number of communiques, among them one dealing with services for people with disability entitled Reform of Roles and Responsibilities in Community Mental Health, Aged Care and Disability Services. The reforms are intended to help build national seamless service systems to better meet the needs of the aged, those with disability or mental illness and their carers. Read the communique on the COAG outcomes page.
Special disability trusts (SDT)
SDTs were introduced by the Federal Government in 2006 to assist families make financial provision for the care and accommodation of a family member with a severe disability. Concerns about the effectiveness of the scheme led to a Senate Committee inquiry which published a report in October, now available on the Senate website. The report recommends changes that could improve the uptake of the scheme by families in need of support. Among the noteable changes is the inclusion of mental illness as an elegibility criterion to qualify for SDTs. Carers Australia was instumental in securing a positive outcome for families. Their submission can be seen on the national website.
National Disability Services (NDS) early childhood intervention issues paper
This paper promotes a more responsive and integrated disability service system for children with a disabillity and their families. Evidence suggests that early intervention and prevention results in long-term benefits for families and the community. The issues paper is available online.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) report - increased use of disability support services
The number of people using disability support services in Australia has increased by 24% over the past four years, according to a report released by the AIHW. The report, Disability Support Services 2006-07, showed the largest increases in respite care, community support and employment services. For an outline of the report, visit the AIHW website.
Research on culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) carers
Diverse strategies for diverse carers: the cultural context of family carers in NSW was a study conducted by the Centre for Cultural Research at the University of Western Sydney for the NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care in 2006. The study provides a methodology for studying CALD groups called 'Cultural Research' and highlights the diversity of experiences of CALD carers. The study is a great resource for those who want to know more about the key issues CALD carers face as part of their caring role. View the full text.
Cultural competence in dementia service delivery
In February this year, clients from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds and the Aboriginal community were consulted for feedback on the provision of dementia services by the NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care (DADHC). Entitled, Appropriate HACC Service Models for People with Younger Onset Dementia & People with Dementia and Behaviours of Concern, the report is available from the DADHC website.
New radio segment for carers
Homereach is a new weekly SBS radio segment providing practical information for the frail aged, people with a disability, and their carers. The segment will take place on SBS’s World View program each Wednesday at 5pm, starting 19 November. It will cover issues such as: preparing wills, home maintenance, respite care, and remaining healthy and active. It also includes one episode on Carers NSW. The program is available in several languages and by podcast. Download or listen again by visiting www.sbs.com.au or listen live on the following frequencies around NSW:
Bathurst 88.9fm
Newcastle and Hunter Valley 1413am
Sydney 1107AM / 97.7fm
Wagga Wagga 103.5fm
Wollongong 1485 am
Young 98.7fm
Caring for a person with HIV/AIDS- a carer's story
Thomas works in a community support centre for people with HIV/AIDS in inner city Sydney. Outside work hours he carers for a friend with the condition. Working Carers Gateway, a website for carers who juggle caring with paid work, gives Thomas's story.
Aboriginal Carers Support Guide
On 27 October, the NSW Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Paul Lynch, launched a self help guide for Aboriginal carers noting that Aboriginal carers often don't identify themselves as carers. Looking after family members is done as a matter of course in the Aboriginal community. Read the media release. The booklet offers information about health and wellbeing for Aboriginal people caring for family members. Enquiries can be directed to Linda Laoulach on (02) 8270 5656.
Sharing our way in community care - conference report
In early August, the NSW Aboriginal Gathering Committee hosted a one day conference for non-Aboriginal providers of community care services. The conference report is now available on the NSW Council of Social Services website.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) people and dementia
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) Dementia News provides a rare resource for the Aboriginal caring community. For more information about dementia and ATSI people see the Alzheimer's Australia website. Or you can contact Venessa Curnow, National ATSI liaison officer by email or by phone
07 4052 0408. Sheree Freeburn, Carers NSW Aboriginal Policy and Development Officer, is a member of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Dementia Advisory Group.
The NSW Department of Disability, Ageing and Home Care (DADHC) has produced a guide to cultural competence best practice for service providers. The guidelines are intended to improve service delivery for both Aboriginal people and clients from a culturally and linguistically diverse background. Details of the guidelines can be found in the section of this e-bulletin headed 'Diversity in caring'.
Journal
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Indigenous women - sector leaders. The NCOSS Indigenous Women's Leadership Program
Christine Mahoney
NCOSS News, September 2008, page 7
In 2007 the NSW Council for Social Services developed a proposal for a leadership program for Indigenous women working in the NSW community sector in recognition of the serious lack of senior female leadership. It is the only program of its kind in NSW. The article will soon be online.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander websites
Mura Gadi, meaning 'pathways for searching', provides links to the National Library's rich holdings of manuscripts, pictures and oral histories relating to Aboriginal Australia. Visit the home page.
Gadigal Information Service was established in 1993 to provide a community based media, arts and information service for the Aboriginal community in Sydney. To read about information, arts and radio visit their website.
Carers News - mental health features
The October/November edition of Carers News, a bi-monthly publication of Carers NSW, features articles on mental health, one year after the introduction of the NSW Mental Health Act 2007. Read the feature articles by clicking the links below:
Editorial - Mental Health 2008
Mental health primary carer training
Mental health one year on - an overview
Nearly $3 billion on mental health in Australia
To receive Carers News, become a member of Carers NSW. Print the membership form, complete it and return it to Carers NSW, PO Box 20156 World Square NSW 2002.
Youth Mental Health Forum - state of emergency
According to a new report released in October, young people living with psychotic illness are receiving inappropriate care resulting in treatment delays and even death. The consensus report by experts, entitled Back from the brink, calls for 25 more specialist youth-specific centres to provide mental health care to young people in order to avert a crisis over the next five years. Read more.
Mental Health Council of Australia (MHCA) - 2nd report
In the report, Mental Health and the new Medicare Services:
2nd Report November 2006 – August 2008, the MHCA examined the state of the mental health care system in Australia and found that the demand for services continues to increase. An analysis of Medicare Benefits Schedule payments indicates that medical practitioners and psychologists receive high levels of payment under the scheme for providing mental health plans. A profile of women's use of services and the under-representation of young men is investigated. This is the second report prepared by the MHCA analysing aspects of the Better Access Program, a key component
of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) National Mental Health Plan which began in November
2006. For more detail, read the media release. The report can be found at the Council's website.
Council of Australian Governments (COAG) mental health reform
Mental health reform continued to be on the agenda of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) when it met in early October. See the communique marked Reform of Roles and Responsibilities in Community Mental Health, Aged Care and Disability Services on the COAG outcomes page.
New law for the mentally ill
A new, law aimed at removing politics from caring for mental health patients, has passed through the NSW parliament. It applies to patients who have been found not guilty of an offence due to mental illness; who are not fit for trial or who become mentally ill in jail. Read the media release.
Suicide call back service
This service aims to provide access to professional help by telephone for people at risk of suicide in remote areas. The suicide call back service assigns a dedicated counsellor to each person in need, providing them with up to six 50 minute counselling sessions. Professionals wishing to refer someone to the service are invited to call 1300 659 467. This is not a helpline number for those at immediate risk of suicide, but an information number for enquiries only.
Journal
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Public mental health in the UK and Europe: a progress report
Lynne Friedli
Auseinetter, 2008; 31(2): 6 - 11
Across the UK and much of Europe there is an acknowledgment that good mental health results in healthier lifestyles and better physical health. Wellbeing has long been the preserve of mental health professionals but now mental health promotion goes hand in hand with terms like 'happiness'. This paper focuses on 'mental capital' in Europe and elsewhere.
Read the full text.
New Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) report - A profile of carers in Australia
In October, ABS released a report that provides demographic information on the characteristics and activities of carers. For a review of the report, visit the Publications section in this e-bulletin.
Social inclusion
Social inclusion strengthens social capital. Carers advocates have long understood the value of supporting cares and the elderly with services and socially inclusive initiatives. Recently, the Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector, Ursla Stephens, addressed the Social Inclusion and Ageing Roundtable and affirmed the Federal Government's intention to further the social inclusion agenda. Read the media release. The Australian Institute of Family Studies has recently published a report, available online, for the Federal Government on this issue.
Young carers give evidence at Federal Parliamentary Inquiry
Young carers recently gave evidence to the Federal Parliamentary Inquiry into Better Support for Carers. Their stories were reported as a feature article on carers in the Parliamentary magazine, About the house. Read the article, Shattered lives: carers at breaking point, in the magazine online.
Young carers returning to school
Young carers returning to primary or high school can find it difficult to juggle school work and their caring role. The young carer project administered by Commonwealth Carer Respite Centres can offer help to achieve these goals. Assistance may include tutoring to help catch up with school work or services to help around the home. Call 1800 059 059 or contact the Young Carer Team at Carers NSW on 1800 242 636.
Nursing Center (USA)
This website contains a wealth of information about how professional health care providers can support family caregivers in their unpaid work. Of particular interest is information contained in a report entitled State of the science: professional partners supporting family caregiving. It deals with topics such as the needs of carers and the skills they call upon to do their work.
