National Carers Week

Mr TEAGUE (Heysen—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:18): I rise to recognise the week that we are in the midst of. National Carers Week runs from 12 to 18 October, and there have already been a number of significant state occasions to recognise significant parts of the carer community. I am so delighted to see so many familiar faces here in the chamber on this occasion. I will say a few words about what might almost by definition be regarded as unheralded work by those who are looking out for those often close to them within a variety of recognised categories in need of care. As a parliament, as a government, we ought to be always taking the steps we can more fully to support those in the carer community.

I just want to record that there are several categories of care that are recognised and they include caring for someone living with a disability; living with mental illness, in particular; dementia; and, importantly to understand, two categories of long-lasting disability, chronic illness and terminal illness, as well as drug and alcohol dependency and otherwise frailty that comes with age.

Bearing in mind that wide variety of formally recognised care, I want to highlight in particular two categories of care that have really had a particular bright light shone on them in the last several days. The first is those children who find themselves caring for a parent who is living with a disability. I was so proud to be along just last week at the Young Carers Voices and Hearts gathering, where those of us who were present will not forget too soon the powerful words of the keynote speaker, Tara Stark, who shared in the most down-to-earth, straightforward way the extraordinary time that she had growing up looking out for her mum living with a persistent mental illness.

Tara Stark's life and achievement, now going on to professional practice to being a mother of four children and continuing to travel the country to engage with young carers and to send the message to them that the work you do is completely irreplaceable in so many ways, was a truly powerful thing to witness. I might also say she really made it clear that the experience and life of a carer can drive benefits in terms of resilience and a richness of life, and it is well we remember that.

Her Excellency the Hon. Frances Adamson AC and Rod Bunten were present on that occasion, and just as they have taken proactive steps to shine a light, including by being patrons of Grandcarers SA, I was also pleased to be along just earlier this week on an occasion hosted at Government House to recognise those engaged in leading ways in palliative care in South Australia. The Minister for Human Services was present on that occasion, as was the Minister for Health, and that special occasion celebrating 40 years of Palliative Care South Australia was truly special as well.

I particularly shout out to the Ambulance Wish initiative that Palliative Care South Australia is sponsoring in a way to provide a special opportunity for someone in palliative care to experience something that they would not be able to do without that assistance of an ambulance, and every strength to them.

Having mentioned Grandcarers SA, I want to also highlight that I am very proud that the member for Morialta has just recently joined the board, led by Chair Kathryn House—and Mike is present, of course, as has been recognised, together with so many other carers. I look forward to him making a strong contribution to that organisation. Happy Carers Week.