Carers Govt Advisory Group Named

The Federal Government has announced the members of a new Carer Gateway Advisory Group to lead an initiative to support Australia’s 2.7 million unpaid carers.

The Government announced $33.7 million in the 2015 Budget to build a national carer gateway and to integrate supports for carers to help them get the support they need.

The 12-member Carer Gateway Advisory Group includes a mix of experts from service providers, peak bodies and individuals with a lived experience as a carer.

The Assistant Minister for Social services, Senator Mitch Fifield said the group would draw on this extensive experience to make sure the carer gateway meets the needs of carers across the country.

“From December 2015, the national carer gateway will be the front door for government support and information for all carers, regardless of who they care for,” Fifield said.

“Hard-working, time-poor carers will have a single phone number and website with a service finder where they can quickly find relevant information about the services available to them.

The Minister said research began this month and includes a survey, focus groups and one-on-one interviews with carers from a range of backgrounds.

The first meeting of the Advisory Group will take place on 6 July in Canberra.

Carer Gateway Advisory Group members are:

• Ara Cresswell (Co-Chair) – Carers Australia

• James Christian (Co-Chair) – Department of Social Services

• Frank Quinlan – Mental Health Australia

• Peter Sparrow – South Australian Carer Support Network

• Damian Griffis – First Peoples Disability Network

• Lorenzo Fazzini – Co.As.It

• Rebecca Reynolds – National LGBTI Health   Alliance

• Dr Ron Sinclair –consumer representative

• David Bowen – National Disability Insurance Agency

• John Rasa – Networking Health Victoria

• Anthony Honeyman – APIS Group

• Fiona Buffinton – Department of Social Services

At the same time the Federal Government announced it will deliver $40 million to support aged care providers’ transition to the new Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) and the consumer directed care (CDC) model of home care packages.

Senator Fifield said this represents a funding boost of $20 million across more than 1,200 providers from four separate Commonwealth-funded community care programs as they transition into the single, streamlined CHSP.

He said from 1 July 2015 the CHSP will be the new entry level to aged care services, bringing together Commonwealth Home and Community Care, planned respite from the National Respite for Carers Program, Day Therapy Centres and Assistance with Care and Housing for the Aged into one streamlined program.