Carers Rights Movement - Australia

Australia

Australia has a population of over 22 million people. Of these 2.5 million are carers.

In Australia, carers are defined as people, usually family members, who provide support to children or adults who have a disability, mental health problem, chronic condition, who are frail aged or have drug or alcohol dependencies. Carers can be parents, partners, brothers, sisters, friends or children of any age. They may care for a few hours a week or all day every day. In Australia, many carers are eligible for government benefits, while others are employed or have a private income.

Carers in Australia receive recognition and support in a number of ways:

• Each of the six states and two territories has a non-government, non-profit organisation that advocates on behalf of carers through the Network of Carers Associations. They also provide information and support programs for carers.
• The Australian Government has supported carers since 1983 by providing carer income support and later pensions.
• Australian governments at all levels provide funding for carer-specific programs including carer support groups, respite, counselling for carers and in-home care for the person being cared for. Other programs assist specific groups of carers like young carers and ageing parent carers of adult children. Parent carers of children with disabilities have received financial support since 1998.
• In October 2010, the Australian Parliament passed the Carer Recognition Act. For an analysis of the legislation, visit the Australian Parliamentary Library’s Bills Digest.
• Many states have carer recognition laws mandating the consideration of carers in all state policy. New South Wales, for instance, enacted the Carers (Recognition) Act in May 2010.
• Carers Australia, as part of its support for young people established the Australian National Young Carers Action Team (ANYCAT) in 2007, and following the formation held the "BringIT" conference in 2008.
• Carers Queensland started its "Young Carers Action Committee" in October 2009, however at its first formal meeting in November 2009 the members changed its name to "Young Carers Action Board Queensland" (YCABQ) - however some board members had reservations over the use of its initials believing that some people may get it confused with Yellow Cabs.
• In the latter part of 2010 the Australian Government conducted consultations with the Australian community to formulate a National Carer Strategy which was released in August 2011 and formally acknowledges the vital role of carers. The National Carer Recognition legislation and the National Carer Strategy forms part of the Government’s response to the 2009 inquiry into better support for carers. See below.
• During the latter part of 2011, the Australian Government Productivity Commission finalised two reports of interest to carers in Australia - Caring for older Australians and the Disability care and support report. Anticipation is now building as the community prepares for aged care and disability reform in Australia.