The Government has recognised that nearly 3 million unpaid care workers need support with better information about services and social connections.
Every day across the country, there are thousands of people who are putting someone else’s needs ahead of their own. They may be looking after a family member or a friend, someone younger or older, sick, disabled or simply frail and unable to care for themselves.
Nearly all of them don’t get paid anything. They are the backbone of our society, but often their role in our healthcare system goes unrecognised. Often they are working alone.
Caring for our carers
In the past however, help for carers had been spread across the disability, mental health and aged care sectors with many reluctant to speak out or seek support.
The Carer Gateway has been established to provide easy access to practical help and services. The handy search function navigates through pages of information.
There’s also a ‘Find a service’ feature that allows you to search your local area for everything from house cleaning and maintenance to transport and counselling.
Just a tap away
With the $12 billion National Disability Insurance Scheme now rolling out and major changes to aged care underway, the Gateway also places all the available services for carers in one place and allows them to connect with support groups too.
It’s designed to be mobile- and tablet-friendly. There is also a national telephone contact centre you can call for a direct referral.
Free call 1800 422 737 Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm or to request a call back.
www.healthdirect.gov.au is also a great source of free health advice and information you can rely on.
Carers in Australia
· A 2015 report by Deloitte Access Economics and Carers Australia estimated that over 1 in 8 Australians were providing unpaid informal care, with 825,000 of these primary carers.
· Demand for care will increase in the next 10 years, but the ratio of carers will fall.
· Most don’t choose to be carers, but are ‘hidden’. Most are from lower-paid households, less likely to be employed and experience higher rates of depression, financial strain and social isolation*.
Sources
‘The Economic Value of Informal Care in Australia in 2015’ – Deloitte Access Economics and Carers Australia 2015
* ‘The Wellbeing of Australians – Carer Health & Wellbeing’ – Robert A Cummins, October 2007 and Ranmuthugala (2009)
