Carers SA

257 Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (27 September 2016). In reference to 2016-17 Budget Paper 4, page 114, has the state government provided funding in 2016-17 to—

(a) maintain and extend funding for local and regional dedicated specialised Carer Support programs supporting carers of people with disability under 65 years of age;

(b) provide ongoing resources to Carers SA;

(c) provide a triennial report to Parliament on the Government's effectiveness in meeting its obligation under the Carers Recognition Act 2005 and We Care Plan;

(d) support young carers, under 25 years of age, in obtaining employment and/or tertiary education; and,

(e) ensure access to online services, digital literacy, information and supports for carers and their families who are in rural and remote regions or who are geographically isolated?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON (Ramsay—Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers): I have been advised:

(a) Yes. Funding for existing local and regional carer-specific SA HACC service providers in 2016-17 has been maintained and agreements with service providers will be extended from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018.

(b) Yes.

(c) There is no requirement for the Minister to report to Parliament. Under the Carers Recognition Act 2005, relevant agencies, including the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion, are required to report on meeting their obligations under the act in their agency's annual report.

(d) Yes. DCSI funds a number of carer support organisations in South Australia that support young carers including Raw Energy (eastern and southern metropolitan regions of Adelaide), Breakthru (northern metropolitan area, Barossa and the lower north region) and Carers SA (western metropolitan, Eyre, River Murray and Mallee, northern country and south east regions).

(e) Yes. In 2016-17, the state government will support a number of agencies and initiatives to ensure access to online services, digital literacy, information and supports for carers and their families who are in rural and remote regions or who are geographically isolated.'