Create a new account and become a part of the Carers Australia community!
Key features include:
Carers Australia has written to Channel Nine expressing concern and disappointment at A Current Affair report.
Carers Australia would encourage all interested carers to get involved in the inquiry. Submissions close 16 August 2010.
Carers Australia is the recognised national voice of Australian carers. Our members are the carers associations in each state and territory. We have no political affiliation. We work with all parties to achieve better outcomes for all carers. We believe that all carers are entitled to the same rights, choices and opportunities as other Australians.
Support needed to ensure care for generations to come
The Australian Government's third Intergenerational Report reveals more than ever the need to support unpaid family carers.
Despite the report's sobering predictions about increased levels of care required across health, disability and aged care, the government still fails to make the connection that family carers must be better supported to cope with the challenges of the ageing population.
"Currently, family carers provide the majority of care to the majority of people needing care in the community," said Carers Australia CEO, Joan Hughes in response to the report.
"This won't change in future and in fact, it has been clear for a long time that the need for family carers, as well as a range of care options, will continue to increase.
"With the rapid ageing of the population more and more Australians will find themselves in a caring role, particularly for ageing parents or partners.
"This report allows us to consider the difficulties we will face as a society if realistic and measurable action to support family carers does not happen soon. It cannot wait."
The Intergenerational Report states "mature age Australians can choose to make a number of important contributions to the community outside paid employment - including through activities such as volunteering or as carers."
The authors however, have failed to understand the nature of caring. Often carers do not have a choice to care and should not be seen as an appendage to the volunteer sector.
"Family carers perform a vital and often unrecognised role in our communities as the ‘invisible health workforce' and they do so not always by choice, but by necessity." Ms Hughes said.
The report also contains some concerning figures regarding projected spending on aged care, indicating that the government may not be prepared to properly address demand in the aged and community care sectors.
The disparity in projected funding levels between residential and community aged care does not reflect the amount of care that will need to be provided in the community, often by family carers. Both of these sectors need to be funded adequately if the demand for care in the community is to be appropriately met.
For media inquiries contact Jessica Beswick 6122 9909
Page 1 of 1
Carers Australia, Unit 1 16 Napier Close, DEAKIN ACT 2600, Australia
t: 02 6122 9900 f: 02 6122 9999 caa@carersaustralia.com.au http://www.carersaustralia.com.au