page updated 7 October, 2011
Why carers may need to talk it over
Why talk to us?
Information and referral
Emotional support
Counselling
Talk-Link telephone group counselling
Carer support groups
Emotional support for young carers under 26 years
Discussion board for young carers under 26 years
Talk to Carers NSW
Many carers find caring a positive experience. They get satisfaction from learning new skills in their caring role and their love and commitment brings them closer together with the person they care for. They feel relief that they are providing the best possible care, and caring gives them a sense of purpose.
However, it is well known that caring can be very tough and have negative effects on carers. The stress of caring, social isolation and loneliness, changes in relationships and a sense of loss are common causes for changes in your emotional and mental wellbeing.
You may feel sad, depressed or worried and anxious. Getting easily upset or frustrated, or feeling mentally or physically exhausted, stressed, guilty, or a sense of grief and loss, are natural and common feelings expressed by carers. Caring can be an emotional roller coaster for many.
The most helpful emotional support is talking to people who are empathetic and non judgmental, and who recognise and understand your role as a carer. It may not be easy, or at times, appropriate, to talk to family or friends about these feelings and issues.
You can discuss your situation with friendly, experienced staff who understand your concerns and issues and who won't make judgements. We recognise that being able to off-load and be heard by a person sensitive to carers’ issues is important.
Our carer support officers can help by providing information and emotional support, referrals to specialised carer counsellors, and other services
Carer counsellors can help you clarify your needs, identify your choices and establish your goals so you are better able to cope with your caring role and look after yourself. They are professionally qualified with credentials that are recognised by an accredited professional association, and are trained by Carers NSW in carer sensitivity and awareness.
Comments from carers
• While ordering information, a carer also stated that:
“The support I’ve received from Carers NSW has always been excellent.”• Following a referral from another service to Carers NSW and after speaking with a staff member:
“I am feeling much better now. Thank you for such professional support”• After receiving requested information for a friend, a carer rang to say:
“Thank you for the information you sent me for my friend. Thank you also for all the assistance your service has given me over the past nine years”• A carer had to go to hospital for an operation and needed someone to care for her partner and was inquiring about activities for him. After receiving the information, the carer rang to say:
“Thank you for the information you sent me, after reading through the information I was able to obtain a positive outcome for my partner.”
Carers NSW: Freecall 1800 242 636*
*Mobile calls charged at mobile rates
Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm (closed public holidays)
We can provide a safe place to express your emotions, needs or wants, without judgement. You can talk to an experienced carer support officer who understands carer issues and who can validate and support you to make informed choices so that you can move forward in your caring role
• A distressed carer rang and spoke to our staff. By the end of the call, the carer said:
“From the first words you spoke to me, it has lifted my spirits… I am now feeling fantastic!"• A carer for her 94-year-old grandmother was finding it difficult to care for her at home, and said that placing her into residential care would not be an option. After discussing her concerns with our staff, the carer said:
“Thank you for the time you’ve taken to listen to me and also for the support you provided me with.”• A carer’s husband had recently been diagnosed with inoperable stomach cancer. She was overwhelmed with the maze of people, services and emotions she had to work her way through. Some health professionals had been wonderful while others were rude and difficult. In some instances they had not validated the importance of her role. Following support from our staff, the carer stated:
“Thank you for being so helpful and supportive. I feel so much better after talking to you.”
Carers NSW: Freecall 1800 242 636*
*Mobile calls charged at mobile rates
Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm (closed public holidays)
We have a short-term counselling service which focuses on helping you build your resilience in your caring role. It is done in a safe and non judgemental environment so you can share your story and feel heard and understood. The counsellor is sensitive to and aware of the issues faced by carers. Our counselling does not address deep- seated problems requiring long-term therapy or analysis or address issues pre-dating your caring role.
Counselling can assist you with:
• Managing your stress, anxiety or depression
• Learning new skills to cope with your life as a carer
• Practical problem solving techniques
• How to deal with any grief and loss you may be experiencing
• Emotional support
• Enhancing your health and wellbeing
Carers who have had counselling in our program have found it very valuable:
“I believe carers are so undervalued and so emotionally overextended, drained and depressed, it is so hard for us to keep going. Knowing we have someone to reinforce us is absolutely wonderful and necessary”.
“My counsellor was very empathic and I felt listened to by someone who did not pass any sort of judgement. It confirmed that my feelings are normal”.
“I was given strategies to handle awkward situations, and given confidence to ask for help and from which areas. I was reminded that as a carer I need to care for myself too”.
“Counselling has given me the means to begin to be able to help myself survive in what I see as a difficult situation beyond my control. I can learn to better sustain myself”.
“Being a carer has led to negative feelings, which, at times can seem just too much. Group counselling gave me a forum whereby I could express my feelings regarding my situation, without concern for normal social stigmatisms. It allowed me to organise my thoughts, feel better about my situation, and provided useful techniques that I could use to improve my life. I personally found counselling to be of great benefit to me and would recommend it to anyone in a similar situation”.
You can have individual or group counselling
Two ways of experiencing confidential counselling:
1 Face to face at a time and location to suit you, in both rural and metropolitan locations. Some people prefer to talk things over in person with their counsellor.
2 Telephone at a time to suit you. This is a good option for people who live in remote areas or who prefer the phone as a medium to discuss their situation.
How do I access this counselling service?
1. Call Carers NSW on 1800 242 636 and speak to a carer support officer. Alternatively, with your consent, a referral can be made by your GP, case manager, support worker or friend
2. The carer support officer listens and discusses your needs and obtains personal details for referral to the counselling service
3. A Carers NSW counsellor will contact you to discuss how counselling will best meet your needs and assess your eligibility
4. After assessment, an initial counselling session is arranged taking into account your availability, location and special needs
5. You will receive a letter of confirming your first appointment details, a consent form, a statement of your rights and responsibilities, and our complaints procedure
This program is a fee for service program. Fees can be reduced or waived in accordance with your capacity to pay. No one will be refused access because of an inability to pay.
Carers NSW Freecall 1800 242 636*
*Mobile calls charged at mobile rates
Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm (closed public holidays)
If you prefer talking over the phone with other carers, try our free Talk-Link service which offers emotional support to carers.
Using teleconferencing, a group of six carers and two trained facilitators get together on the telephone at the same time each week to help carers explore issues around caring, especially its emotional impact and the isolation it can cause.
The program runs for six consecutive weeks with each weekly session lasting for one hour.
It can be of great benefit for carers living in remote locations.
• Reduction in the sense of isolation
• Being able to talk freely with others who understand
• Sharing, learning and building existing coping skills
• Having a sense of connection with others who understand
• Being accepted
• Sharing mutual feelings and fears
• The opportunity to make new friends
"Talk-Link has helped me to know that other people have been travelling down my road and have survived. It has given me hope for the future."
Male carer of wife with multiple sclerosis"It is a relief to talk about things when you know someone else is in a similar situation."
Female carer of son with an acquired brain injury"After our first meeting I put down the phone feeling very high from nervous excitement, with a sore ear from listening so intently as I’d been frightened I'd miss something."
Wife caring for husband with dementia“A very valuable service that could be a life-line for carers in great need”
Wife caring for husband with acquired brain injury
What do I need to take part in Talk-Link?
• Access to an ordinary landline telephone (no mobiles) one hour per week for eight weeks
• It is recommended you organise a space where you won't be disturbed and can talk freely
• You will be asked to complete a form before the group starts to identify the issues you want to discuss. These are then developed into weekly topics to guide the group discussion.
If you prefer talking with other people who are carers in a group, try joining a carer support group.
Carer support groups allow carers to meet on a regular basis to discuss their caring situation, socialise, share information and offer each other support.
Around 400 groups are registered with us across New South Wales. We continue to develop and promote more groups where possible. Support groups are an excellent way for carers to socialise and share experiences with each other.
More information on carer support groups
Some of the most common issues young people talk about are the impacts caring can have on their education, family relationships, social relationships and health.
Young carers have the opportunity to talk these issues over with our experienced young carer project officers on 1800 242 636 Monday to Friday 9am-5pm
For more information visit www.youngcarersnsw.asn.au
Another way to share experiences and learn from one another is using the discussion board on the young carer website www.youngcarersnsw.asn.au. Young carers can post and read discussion board messages on a range of topics and share carer stories with others.
How do I participate in the discussion board
1. Become an online member at www.youngcarersnsw.asn.au
2. Log in to the members section of the website
3. Visit YC Chat forum
4. Send a message
5. The moderator will publish the message on the discussion board
To post a story or poem
1. Visit the young carer website www.youngcarersnsw.asn.au
2. Type “story” or “poem” into the search engine
3. Use the automated form to send the story/poem
4. The story/poem will be posted on the young carer website
What young carers have said about their experiences on the discussion board:
Use our confidential feedback form to provide feedback to Carers NSW about our website. If you require a response, we will endeavour to respond within two weeks. If you have a more urgent query please ring 1800 242 636 (Freecall - mobiles charged at mobile rates).
Use our confidential question form to ask carer-related questions. We will endeavour to respond within two weeks. If you have a more urgent query please please ring 1800 242 636 (Freecall - mobiles charged at mobile rates).
Carers NSW is committed to providing the best possible service to carers in New South Wales. It is important to tell us when you are unhappy with our service so that we can work to continuously improve it.
Please read our complaints process
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page updated 7 October, 2011
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