Who is a Carer?

A Carer is someone who provides substantial care and support to a friend or relative who is young or frail aged who have a mental illness, a disability, a chronic illness or requiring palliative care. A Carer can also be a friend or neighbor who assists and supports someone who is frail aged, lives alone, cares for them self independently but also needs assistance…


Carers are usually family members, they can be parents, partners, brothers, sisters, friends or children of any age. Carers may care for a few hours a week or all day every day. Some carers are working or eligible for government benefits, while others, like young carers, are trying to remain at school.


In recent years there has been confusion about who exactly is a carer. This is because 'carer' has been applied to different groups of people. Sometimes it has been applied to family members of people who are frail or who have a disability or a chronic or mental illness. Sometimes it has been used for volunteers, and it is often used for paid staff in the residential, community care and child care sectors. As a result, it is not always clear which group is being referred to when the term 'carer' is used.


In short, we prefer that the term 'carer' be used to apply to informal carers only, that is, parents, partners, significant others, family members, friends and neighbours (ie, those people who care for someone on an ongoing, unpaid basis). In this way, we will all be respectfully speaking about the same group of people when we say 'carer'.


If you are a full time carer our organisation can provide you with respite, even though you may think it is part of your ‘job’ as a father, mother, friend, family member.

We are here to support and assist you in times of emergency, when you are tired and losing patience, feeling unable to cope or just need to visit family for a few days (time out) to recharge your self.

 

How to contact us for more information, or to discuss what we can do or to register your details with us for when you require planned respite or in case of an emergency: Contact your nearest Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre on 1800 059 059* Freecall (*except from mobiles)

 

What we can do

We have dedicated staff (Support Facilitators and Intake Staff) available to specifically help Carers. We can help Carers find the balance between caring for another person and caring for themselves, by providing the support and information they need in order for them to continue to do what they do. We can also assist someone who is frail aged, lives alone independently, cares for themselves but needs some assistance.

 

The Support, Information and Referral services we provide covers:

  • A range of health and community services available in your area and agencies specialising in particular health conditions.
  • Provide an opportunity to talk confidentially about a range of issues.
  • Assistance with planning of innovative care options to meet individual needs.
  • Carer Respite services, including residential respite, in-home respite, cottage respite and day programs.
  • Your rights and entitlements as a Carer.
  • Local self-help and Carer support groups.
  • Visit you in your home or meet at a place convenient to you
  • Provide emotional support centred on your needs as a Carer.
  • Identify and support opportunities for enhancing your personal wellbeing.
  • Introduce you to a range of support services tailored to your needs and those of the person for whom you care
  • Assist you to develop strategies to manage your caring situation.
  • Arrange short term in home respite to give you a break.
  • Arrange immediate in home respite to assist you in an emergency.
  • Work with you to advocate that your needs be met.
  • Resource and support local carer support groups.
  • A range of health, education, and other community services to assist Working Carers, Young Carers, and Carers of a person with a Mental Health condition.

 

 

Under the National Respite for Carers Program (NRCP) we can purchase respite and other services to assist carers in the short term if the services are not available elsewhere in the community.


The aim of brokerage funding under the NRCP is for purchasing much needed services with the aim of flexibility to ensure that carers can gain necessary respite from their caring responsibilities so they may continue to support the person they care for at home. In other words, we aim to provide you with the most appropriate service that meets your needs and the needs of the person you care for.

 

 

Brokerage funding can help purchase important services such as:

  • Residential respite
  • Camps
  • In-home respite
  • Assistance with holidays
  • Stress management
  • Equipment for older adults
  • Assistance with transport
  • Personal care services
  • Attendance at information / training sessions
  • Mental Health support and education programs
  • Responsive respite programs for example holiday programs for carers of children with a disability.

 

There are many other ways in which Suncare Community Services programs can assist those in the community who need it most including providing information and support to Carers and those cared for in rural and remote areas and to support special needs groups including those who are financially disadvantaged.

 

For further information and support please contact us on 1800 059 059.

 

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