Matters of Interest

National Carers Week

The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO (15:24): Today, I rise on the fourth day of National Carers Week 2024 to highlight one of the millions of reasons to care. National Carers Week occurs annually and this year will run from Sunday 13 October to Saturday 19 October 2024. It is a time to recognise, celebrate and raise awareness about the three million Australians who provide care to a family member or friend. I am proud to say that this week also marks the one-year anniversary of the establishment of the Parliamentary Friends of Carers, a joint venture with the member for Adelaide, Lucy Hood MP, from the other place.

Throughout the events, tours and workshops that we have held one thing stood out to me and that is that the rising cost of living is disproportionately affecting unpaid carers. Today I would like to share the stories of some of those carers in their words. Two weeks ago I was contacted by Carol via email with the subject line 'Cost of living'. Carol's email read:

Hi Heidi,

As a carer we have many issues. We have many expenses often relating to medical needs, prescriptions, travel to hospital appointments, and special dietary needs, in-home cost of high electricity to cover the costs of the child sometimes needing extra heating and cooling to keep the children stable. Some children do not like change so routines, which might include a lot of baths and electronic equipment, a lot of washing due to wet nights, the money barely covers the higher cost of living.

It would be great to get a council rate discount or more, other services made available, and we must also always ensure that we have good phone service which is always near impossible to cover all of the bills. We must have a good car, full car insurance to accommodate the children's needs, then try to pay for activities to let them have a normal life as part of our family.

I've not been able to afford a holiday since having my foster son. We miss out on many things. We save the government large residential costs of having these children. All carers need are high cost-of-living increases.

Thank you, Carol. I would like to send a special thanks to Carol as it was her email that inspired me to speak on this topic today. Carol's story, while not unique, will sound all too familiar to other carers. Carol's story is an example of the day-to-day challenges so many unpaid carers face due to the rising cost of living. For a carer, it is not themselves that they must consider when managing their budget but, typically, they are on a very limited and fixed income. In fact many carers selflessly forego their own needs to support those they are caring for.

Often when people need to be cared for it is because they have complex needs which comes with its own laundry list of expenses. The cost of these needs often falls to the responsibility of the carer. With a failing health system, exorbitant grocery prices, rising utility costs, not to mention the cost of going to a GP, SA Water increases, emergency service levy and ever-increasing government fees and charges, it is so hard for most South Australians to keep up with the current economic climate, let alone those who have an extra person or more in their care.

What I have found consistently when meeting with so many carers just like Carol is that, despite the many challenges, they always choose to go on with caring for those in need. Following on from Carol's email, I reached out to other carers in the community and received feedback from a lady who wishes to remain anonymous. She states:

I'm a foster carer who has cared for a child with complex needs for many years and I want to highlight the significant financial challenges we face.

Caring for children with higher support needs has impacted my ability to work, adding financial strain. This affects both my livelihood and the care that I can provide.

Unlike others in the child protection sector, I do not have superannuation for retirement, leaving me financially disadvantaged in the long term. The carer payment is insufficient and hasn't kept pace with the rising cost of living.

I would like to thank those who have shared their reality with me, and allowing me to retell this in this place. I urge those listening to check in on carers, offer them a break, acknowledge them and support them. Find one of the million reasons to care and also to ensure that this week, as we are celebrating Carers Week, that we reach out to those who are making the ultimate sacrifice.