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Carers Support Program

Who Are Carers?

There are many people who provide support to someone with a mental illness, disability chronic illness or who is frail aged. They do this because they care about the person and what happens to them. People often fall into the caring role because it becomes a natural extension of their relationship with the person.

Anyone can be a carer, including partners, parent’s friends, sibling’s neighbours and children.

Family and friends play an important role in caring for and supporting people living with an illness. They may offer practical assistance such as personal care, mobility, transport, communication, housework or emotional support.

Young people can be carers too. They may be providing extra support at home such as cooking, shopping, supervising brothers and sisters and helping with personal care.

Did you know?

We are committed to contributing to carers achieving quality of life for themselves and for the people they support. Carer policy, planning and action across the LHD is guided by the NSW Carers (Recognition) Act 2010.

Family & Carer Support Program

The Family & Carer Support Program can provide a range of services to anyone providing care and support to someone with an ongoing illness. These include

Information and resources

Referrals to other support services

Advocacy

Help navigating our health services

Wellbeing programs

Opportunities to get involved in our service planning

CLICK HERE FOR Carer Support Program Brochure

For more information contact: Carer Support Program on (08) 8080 1525.

Information for Families and Carers Booklet

Information, services and supports that are availalable and tips for looking after yourself while caring. CLICK HERE FOR Information for Families and Carers Booklet.

 NSW Carers (Recognition) Act 2010

The NSW Carers (Recognition) Act  requires that all public sector agency staff including NSW Health staff:

  • Are aware of, and understand the NSW Carers Charter
  • consult with carers, or organisations that represent carers, on policy that may affect them
  • have human resource policy that caters to and considers the needs of the workforce who are carers.

In addition, as a human service agency, NSW Health staff must reflect the thirteen principles of the Charter in their work. The principles of the NSW Carers Charter must inform the way staff, interact with carers.

NSW Carers (Recognition) Act resources

A great place to start for support and services

Carers should not have to carry the responsibilities of caring alone. There are many types of supports and services available to help you to manage your caring role and maintain your wellbeing.

Carer Gateway

The Carer Gateway is a national online and phone service that provides practical information and resources to support carers. The interactive service finder helps carers connect to local support services. To go to the Carer Gateway click here  www.carergateway.gov.au

Working Carers Gateway

The Working Carers Gateway is a website especially for working carers. It provides access to a large range of information, advice, workplace tips, e-news, useful links and online discussion.

For employers this site includes information to assist employers to create carer friendly workplaces. The Gateway promotes the concept that allowing flexibility in the workplace can be mutually beneficial.

To go to the Working Carers Gateway click here: Working Carers Gateway

Young Carers

Young people can be carers too. They may be providing extra support at home such as cooking, shopping, supervising siblings and helping with personal care.

www.youngcarers.nsw.gov.au

Carer NSW and Carer Line

Carer NSW is the peak non-government organisation for carers in NSW. They can provide information, resources, emotional support and counselling programs.

www.carersnsw.org.au

Centrelink

If you care for someone, you may be eligible for payments designed to help you meet the costs of caring. The Australian Government offers a number of carer payments and services to people who provide daily care to someone with a severe disability, mental illness, medical condition or terminal life-limiting illness, or an older person with care needs.

Click here to go online for Carer Payments, financial assistance and information

Basics about hospitals

When the person you care for is in hospital it can be a very stressful time. Carers may be confused about how the hospital system works and uncertain about who to talk to when they have concerns about the person they care for. These fact sheets cover some of the basics about hospitals and what you can expect.

Patient Information and Privacy: A Guide for Carers and Family Brochure

Know you rights

Navigating the hospital

Education for Carers

The Carer Life Course is a short free, online interactive learning module that identifies six phases of caring that most carers go through, and provides information, support and resources.

The Carer Life Course can help break down common feelings of isolation and fear by providing a map of what other carers have gone through.

If you are a carer, you may feel your own needs get lost in the caring role. You may feel you need support, and don’t know where to turn - and it’s always a relief when you know you’re not the only one going through this.

For Carer Life Course information go online at www.carerlifecourse.com.au

Self-guided Coaching

The carer coaching service provides an opportunity for you to explore the impacts of your caring role on your life. Each session includes evidence supported information, practical tips, resources, reflection activities and stories from real Australian carers. Some of the topics covered are your health and wellbeing, understanding inclusion and advocacy, getting your finances in order, what makes for good support and everyday life.

For the Career Coaching Service go to www.coaching.carergateway.gov.au

Carer Experience Stories

We invite you to share your experience to help us create a better health service. Carer experience stories give carers a voice. It is a chance for you to tell us what you have experienced through your journey with our health service from admission to discharge. It is an opportunity to share with us what is working well and where we could improve.

For further questions or you would like to participate in a carer experience story, please contact:

Alyce Degoumoise on (08) 8080 1508 or email Alyce.Craker@health.nsw.gov.au