Caring for Australia's carers
Federal Minister for Ageing, Julie Bishop, officially launched National Carers Week on Monday 18 October.
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17 October 2004 | JB203/04 |
Caring for Australia’s carers
Carers are being encouraged to take care of their own health and wellbeing as part of Carers Week 2004 (18-23 October).
The Federal Minister for Ageing, Julie Bishop, will officially launch National Carers Week at Canberra Business Centre, Regatta Point, at 7.30am on Monday 18 October.
Ms Bishop said carers played a pivotal role in helping those they cared for to remain independent and in their own homes and communities for as long as possible.
"Being a carer can be very demanding, time consuming and challenging, and the Australian Government recognises that carers also have their own needs and require support," Ms Bishop said.
"Carers Week is an opportunity to recognise the roles carers play, and to encourage carers to look after themselves, as well as the person they are caring for.
"Since 1996 the Australian Government has enhanced the respite options and choices for carers by increasing funding for the National Respite for Carers Program more than fivefold.
"We are providing support through Commonwealth Carer Respite Centres and respite services located across the country, as well as funding the National Carer Counselling Program to provide qualified counselling services to help carers cope with pressures such as stress and anxiety.
"The 2004 Federal Budget delivered a $460 million package to enhance support for carers. The Australian Government will build on these initiatives with our election commitments to further increase financial support and respite options for carers."
These include:
- increasing the hours carers can participate in activities such as work or study, to 25 hours per week without losing eligibility for payment;
- enabling up to 5,000 carers to obtain an extra 480 hours of employment-related respite per year;
- doubling the number of high care residential respite days by 2007-08;
- purchasing extra overnight respite in cottage-style community homes to enable up to 2,000 carers to have three days of respite per week for 12 weeks a year; and
- providing supplements for 176 extra respite places in Multipurpose Services in rural, regional and remote areas across the nation.
Media contact: Rachael Thompson 0417 265 289