DISABILITY CARERS

In reply to the Hon. K.L. VINCENT (25 November 2010) (First Session).

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers): The importance of maintaining carer health and wellbeing is a core principle of the SA Carers Charter and the Carers Recognition Act 2005. Research indicates that carers experience significantly worse physical and emotional health than non-carers. While maintaining health and wellbeing is critical for all carers, it is acknowledged that women represent the majority of people who provide care to a family member or friend with disability, a chronic illness or who are frail and therefore need assistance.

Throughout 2010 the Office for Carers worked with General Practice SA and the rural Divisions of General Practice, to raise awareness of the importance of monitoring carer health and referring carers to carer support services as a preventative measure. This project will also be rolled out in the metropolitan area in 2012, to coincide with the Access2HomeCare metropolitan initiative which was progressed in October 2011.

Resources will continue to be distributed to key service providers in addition to GPs. The Carers portal on the Government of South Australia website includes a specific section with information and referral options for GPs and other health professionals. A state-wide carer support services search map is also on the website www.sa.gov.au/carers.

The nature of care giving can result in carers being vulnerable to physical, emotional, social, and financial stress. It is important to support carers to maintain employment for both financial and social reasons. A Managers and Carers Working Together information and awareness package has been developed with the aim of achieving a cultural change, with caring seen as a normal life activity and one to be supported and encouraged, along with flexible work options. Although this is a Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (DCSI) initiative, the concept and ideas are being made available for use by other Departments.

A Home and Community Care (HACC) research project was undertaken in 2011-12, with a focus on maintaining carers' physical health and wellbeing, and connection with their communities. The project will propose a best practice framework to support carers as they move through the caring role. This Project will be reported in 2012.

A Families Ageing in Place project developed resources for ageing carers of adult children with disability who are also experiencing ageing issues. Many of these carers will be women. Funding was provided to the Disability Information Resource Centre (DIRC) in 2009 to develop a service directory, which is available on the Connecting Up Australia and DIRC websites, and to develop The Path Service. The Path focuses on 'The Later Years' to support people with disability, their carers and families, who face ageing issues.

The annual South Australian Carer Recognition Awards extend carer recognition from the government into the private sector, by identifying and acknowledging innovation and best practice by South Australian businesses, non-government organisations, government departments and general practices, in their response to carers who are customers or employees. The Awards both raise awareness and encourage service and program response to support the needs of carers.

The demands for and on carers in Australia will continue to increase with the ageing of the population as well as a population growth and an emphasis on smaller, more scattered families. South Australia places high priority on the funding of support for carers. In 2009-10, the Office for the Ageing (OFTA) allocated approximately $16 million in HACC funding to carer support and respite services for carers of frail older people, including people with dementia and younger people with disability, representing about 10 per cent of total HACC funds.

New carer support services funded in 2008-09 in the Adelaide Hills, Yankalilla, Kangaroo Island and the outer southern metropolitan area are now fully operational. In 2010-11, a new service was funded in Strathalbyn. State-wide coverage of carer support services has now been achieved.

A National Carer Strategy is currently being developed by the Commonwealth Government in consultation with State and Territory Governments, with input from carers, carer support organisations and service providers. This will provide a consistent national framework and approach to policies, programs and services for Australian carers. South Australia is actively contributing to the Strategy.

The Australian Government has provided $1.6 million in 2011-13 to fund a campaign to raise public awareness of carers and $1 million to hold young carer festivals.

In 2009, the government asked the Social Inclusion Board to develop a blueprint for long-term reform of the disability system. The report 'Strong Voices' was released in October 2011. The report recognises the need to ensure our disability support system is strong and effective, and is able to supply the care and support needed by people with disability, beyond that which their family or friends can readily and willingly provide. It also recognises the need to boost support for carers. The government has already supported almost half of the 'Strong Voices' recommendations, including enabling everyone with six hours or more of disability support to have a personal budget, which they can manage themselves if they choose. Greater control and choice over how and what disability supports are provided is something that both people with disability and their carers have been calling for. The government will consider the remaining recommendations as part of the State Budget process, including a number that relate specifically to carers, such as increasing respite, improving concessions for carers, meeting unmet need and assisting with future planning for ageing carers.