National Carers Week

Ms WORTLEY (Torrens) (15:44): This week in Australia is National Carers Week. It is an opportunity to raise community awareness among all Australians about the diversity of carers and their caring roles, recognising and celebrating the outstanding contribution Australia's 2.8 million unpaid carers make to our nation. These carers provide unpaid care and support to family members and friends with a disability, mental illness, chronic condition, terminal illness, an alcohol or other drug issue who are frail aged.

Carers make an enormous contribution to our communities as well as to our national economy. Should all carers decide to stop performing their caring role, it will cost the country more than $60 billion per year to replace those supports. In my electorate of Torrens, I have met with many carers: parents caring for their children, both young and adults with disabilities; husbands and wives caring for spouses with dementia; physical disabilities resulting from strokes, accidents and disease; young people caring for a parent, siblings, a relative or a friend as well as running the household all whilst still attending school.

In fact, more than 300,000 of Australia's carers are young carers, with 150,000 under the age of 18. While many young carers emphasise that caring is a positive experience, research indicates that, when inadequately supported, their own health, mental health and wellbeing can be seriously affected. Some carers may provide up to 24 hours nursing aid in an unpaid capacity to support a family member or friend with high-care needs often with little or no training at all. Others may care for family and friends who are fairly independent but who may need someone to keep an eye on them or help them with their daily tasks.

The South Australian government distributes over $2.9 million in annual funding across the sector for respite, advocacy, counselling and information. This funding provides so many services that really make a difference across many sectors of the community. They help the community to run forums, present awards, run awareness projects, publish information on websites and train staff and volunteers. The importance of combating social isolation and simply bringing people together cannot be overestimated. In my electorate office we try to do as much as possible to take everyday pressures off carers by liaising on their behalf with government departments, utility companies and support organisations. I know how important this is and the difference it can make.

I recall the challenges my father faced looking after his mother—my much-loved grandmother—as dementia took hold. It can be an isolating journey for the carer who is also coping with their own grief at the loss and trying to continue with their own life. The physical and emotional toll was significant, and he kept her in her own home until it was no longer safe to do so. I honour him for his dedication and commitment.

It is often the case that some residents I meet with feel isolated if they are caring for a loved one and do not have any means of connecting with others experiencing a similar situation; so, in my office we assist in connecting them with services that may be able to make their lives more manageable. One such service is the Northern Carers Network, a not-for-profit, grassroots community organisation funded through the state and federal governments to provide support to carers living in the northern metropolitan region of Adelaide. It is connected to Carers SA, part of the national Network of Carer Associations and a member of Carers Australia, the recognised national peak body representing and advocating on behalf of family and friend carers throughout Australia.

Carers are an integral part of Australia's health system and the foundation of our aged, disability, palliative and community care systems. The caring role may include help and support in any of the daily activities of the person being cared for. It may include physical and personal care and assistance such as dressing, lifting, showering, feeding or providing transport. Often carers are also responsible for the management of medications and may provide emotional, social and financial support. It may involve helping the person they are caring for to be organised, reminding them to attend appointments and dealing with emergencies.

Australia has over 2.8 million carers, 12 per cent of the population. Any one of us can become a carer at any time. Today, in National Carers Week, I would like to acknowledge the many South Australians who have taken on the role of unpaid carer, and extend a very sincere thank you.