THE HON MARK BUTLER MP
Minister for Mental Health and Ageing
17 October 2010
GILLARD GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR CARERS AND THEIR FAMILIES
Minister for Mental Health and Ageing Mark Butler today launched Wellbeing Fiesta carers’
health and wellbeing festival at West Beach in Adelaide.
The festival, run by Carer Support, a South Australian carer association, is one of many
events being held around Australia this week to recognise the valuable role that carers play
in looking after a family member or friend who is unable to look after themselves.
Mr Butler said the Gillard Government was committed to supporting carers through many
programs and initiatives, some of which include:
financial support through a carer payment for people whose caring responsibilities
prevent them from substantial paid employment
reforms in 2009 to make pensions more secure and sustainable
the introduction of an annual Carer Supplement of $600 for eligible recipients of the
Carer Payment and up to $600 for recipients of the Carer Allowance
the National Respite for Carers Program that provides respite care and counselling
and carer information and, if required, assistance for people with their caring duties.
The National Respite for Carers Program helped more than 143,000 people last financial
year.
This included support from 54 Commonwealth Respite and Centrelink Centres, more than
650 community-based respite services and a network of carer associations providing the
National Carer Counselling program.
The Government will provide more than $200 million to the National Respite for Carers
Program during 2010–2011 and is working to make the program more flexible and
responsive to the needs of consumers.
There are also other specialised respite care programs that help young carers complete
secondary education and families carers and families of people with mental illness,
psychiatric disability and/or intellectual disability to access flexible respite and support
options.
Mr Butler will launch National Carers Week at Old Parliament House in Canberra tomorrow.
MEDIA CONTACT: Samantha Regione 0418 112 688
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