3.8: Carers Recognition and Addressing Disability

We are committed to recognising and supporting staff that have caring responsibilities

In response to the House of Representatives Standing Committee report: Who Cares...? Report on the inquiry into better support for carers April 2009, the Australian Government agreed to develop a National Carer Recognition Framework comprising national carer recognition legislation and a national carer strategy.

The Carer Recognition Act 2010 received royal assent on 18 November 2010.
The National Carer Strategy was launched on 3 August 2011.

Carer Recognition Act 2010

The Carer Recognition Act 2010 (the Act) establishes a definition of ‘carer’ encompassing all individuals who provide personal care, support and assistance to individuals who need support due to: disability; a medical condition, including a terminal or chronic illness; mental illness; or fragility due to age.

Schedule 1 to the Act includes a Statement for Australia’s Carers articulating the principle that all carers should have the same rights, choices and opportunities as other Australians.

The National Carer Strategy

The National Carer Strategy is an integral part of the broader social inclusion agenda and sits alongside and complements the National Disability Strategy. The Strategy is a ten year plan with three year action plans forming the core of the implementation approach.

Reporting on the Act

2011-12 is the first year that Australian Government agencies have had to report against the obligations contained in the Act.

Measures Taken by the Department to Ensure Employees and Agents have an Awareness and Understanding of the Statement for Australia’s Carers [Part 3 s7(1)]

The Department funds Carers Australia to run Carers Week each year to raise the profile of carers and the Act, including the Statement for Australia’s Carers. During Carers Week the Department disseminates internally information about carers. Compliance with the Act is written into service providers’ funding agreement schedules, to ensure third parties adhere to the Statement for Australia’s Carers.

Department’s Internal Human Resource Policies, so far as they may significantly affect an employee’s caring role, are to be developed having due regard to the Statement for Australia’s Carers [Part 3 s7(2)]

The Department, through its employment framework, has demonstrated its commitment to recognising and supporting staff members who care for someone who has a disability, mental illness, a chronic condition, or is frail and dependent on them for support and attention.

This includes a range of provisions to assist staff with caring responsibilities that have been delivered as part of the Department’s new Enterprise Agreement 2011-2014 and employment guidelines, including access to:

paid and unpaid carers leave which can be used for a variety of responsibilities including preventive health consultations for those in a staff member’s care;
the ability to purchase over a twelve month period, an additional leave six weeks per calendar year;
implementation of a departmental Improving Wellness and Motivation in the Workplace Initiative that, as part of its objectives, aims to provide staff members with assistance to be able better balance their work and caring responsibilities;
an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) which offers counselling for staff and their family to assist with work or personal issues; and
flexible working arrangements, such as part time employment and home-based work, to help accommodate the needs of staff members with caring responsibilities.

Measures taken to ensure that employees and agents take action to reflect the principles of the Statement for Australia’s Carers in developing, implementing, providing or evaluating care supports [Part 3 s8(1)]

In developing aged care policy and in service delivery, consideration is given to the needs of a number of vulnerable groups, including the specific needs of carers. Compliance with the Act is written into aged care service providers’ funding agreement schedules.

For example, the Evaluation of the National Palliative Care Program (NPCP) project is addressing the direct and indirect benefits of the NPCP to professionals and a variety of groups including carers. A variety of stakeholders will be consulted including the Consumers Health Forum. In addition, part of the evaluation framework involves surveys being tailored and conducted to specific groups including carers.

Consult carers or bodies that represent carers when developing or evaluating care supports [Part 3 s8(2)]

The Department consults widely with stakeholders in developing, implementing and reviewing relevant policies and programs. Stakeholder consultation includes key expert advisory groups, stakeholder forums and focus groups, most of which involve consumer and carer participation.

An example of carer involvement in implementing mental health initiatives is the Partners in Recovery (PIR) Initiative. The initiative will support people with severe and persistent mental illness and complex needs to access the range of services they need. The implementation of this initiative has been guided by an Expert Reference Group which includes mental health carers.

Another example of the recognition of carer participation and involvement includes the consultation the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing undertook directly with consumers and carers through a national mental health road show and the advice sought from the Mental Health Expert Working Group (which included carer representation) in the development of the 2011-12 Delivering National Mental Health Reform package. The Minister for Mental Health and Ageing held ‘Conversations on Ageing’, engaging in a conversation with older Australians, their families and carers at forums in all capital cities and major regional centres regarding aged care reform – giving the community the opportunity to contribute their views about care and support for Australians as they age.

In addition the Department funds Carers Australia as well as other advocacy agencies and peak bodies to represent carers issues to Government and the Department.

National Disability Strategy

Since 1994, Commonwealth departments and agencies have reported on their performance as policy adviser, purchaser, employer, regulator and provider under the Commonwealth Disability Strategy. In 2007-08, reporting on the employer role was transferred to the Australian Public Service Commission’s State of the Service Report and the APS Statistical Bulletin.¹⁴³ From 2010-11, departments and agencies have no longer been required to report on these functions.

The Commonwealth Disability Strategy has been overtaken by a new National Disability Strategy which sets out a ten year national policy framework for improving life for Australians with a disability, their families and carers. A high level report to track progress for people with a disability at a national level will be produced by the Standing Council on Community, Housing and Disability Services to the Council of Australian Governments and will be available at www.fahcsia.gov.au. The Social Inclusion Measurement and Reporting Strategy agreed by the Government in December 2009 will also include some reporting on disability matters in its regular How Australia is Faring report and, if appropriate, in strategic change indicators in agency annual reports. More detail on social inclusion matters can be found at www.socialinclusion.gov.au.

These reports are available at www.apsc.gov.au

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