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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-10-19 Daily Xml
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Grievance Debate

National Carers Week

Mr TELFER (Flinders) (15:11): I, too, take the opportunity today to rise and speak about what has already been covered as such an important aspect of our community and such an important cohort of our community, and that is carers within our community. I am very pleased to speak today and join the others who are lending their voices to speak about carers and the great work that they do, because I do not think there is anyone in this place who would not have connections, constituents, people in their electorate who give so much of themselves in their role as carers. These wonderful people are selflessly looking after someone else.

As has been mentioned, the theme this year for Carers Week is 'Millions of Reasons to Care'. That theme in a way seeks to educate the general public about the work of the more than 2.65 million Australians caring for their family members or friends. Carers run the breadth of ages, from children caring for their older siblings or their parents, as well as older parents caring for their own children who may need more help as they grow old—possibly with a disability or just needing that extra support—through to foster carers or long-term carers to children they may or may not be related to.

It cuts across all cultures as well. The saying 'It takes a village' can be commandeered to the carer ethos. All carers balance their care work with their other responsibilities: paid work, study, family and the other commitments that life throws up, and oftentimes it takes more than one person to support one person: it takes a whole village.

On this Carers Week, the 31st celebration of it, we celebrate those in our community who do take on the burden of providing support to others. That number, 2.65 million carers, is an incredible one and, as the member for Frome has mentioned, it is one in 10 Australians. Every single one of us has a connection to someone who gives of themselves as a carer.

Currently in the federal parliament, there is an inquiry underway into the recognition of unpaid carers. That inquiry is currently accepting submissions, and one of the things that I hope comes out of this inquiry is a greater awareness and greater, as the title suggests, recognition for carers. This morning, a white paper from Siblings Australia was released, and that report spoke at length of the extraordinary role siblings play in the lives of their brothers or sisters with disability, lifelong care and especially when their parents age or pass away. They act as the main point of contact: advocates, service coordination and generally managing the professionals they have to work with to look after their sibling.

As the federal government also contemplates its disability strategy 2021-2031, those siblings will continue to play a key role in supporting their families, as well as with all carers. The same goes here in South Australia. As this government contemplates its disability inclusion plan, carers will play an important part and, as always, a large role in protecting, advocating and caring for those in our community who need it.

A couple of months ago, the shadow attorney-general and I had the opportunity to meet with representatives from The Carer Project. I recognise them in the gallery today. We spoke about the challenges not just of having to care for people but also of working through the system that surrounds and helps protect people within their care, and also the challenges of living a caring life 24 hours a day, seven days a week and still having to work within that system. It really highlighted to me that we as decision-makers need to make sure we are listening to people who are living with the challenges of being a carer and make sure we are making policy which appropriately reflects that. I know that the minister also understands that great responsibility that we have as lawmakers and legislators.

I want to especially note the extra challenges that regional carers face. As a representative of a regional community, I know that the distance away from support structures that can be put in place in a metropolitan area makes it an even greater challenge for carers in regional areas. I would really like to give a shout-out to carers within my electorate who have to do that extra work on top.

In closing, I also want to put on the record my thanks to my colleague in the other place, the Hon. Heidi Girolamo, for co-convening the Friends of Carers group with the member for Adelaide and for bringing this important issue to parliament in this fashion. It is important we reflect and recognise those in our community who are carers.

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