Media Release
19 October, 2009
Carers Week 18 October, 2009 – 24 October, 2009
Carer Recognition Legislation is lip service without a funded national family-carer
advocacy network.
“Today’s announcement by the Rudd government of Carers Recognition Legislation is a
curious one full of suggestion and promise but devoid of detail” said Mary Lou Carter, party
secretary of the Carers Alliance.
“The best way for the Rudd government to recognise unpaid family carers is to fund a
national family-carer advocacy network Across Australia. Only then will carers know the
government is serious about enhancing their quality of life. A family-carer advocacy
network would inform policy from a hands-on and grassroots perspective. Such a network
would make carers part of the decision-making process that ultimately impacts on their
lives and the lives of the people for whom they care.” continued Carter
Carers Alliance has consistently called for the following:
1.
Funded family-carer advocacy at national, state and regional level
2.
Federal legislation recognising the carer role and carers’ entitlements to support
and services
3.
A National Disability Insurance Scheme as the centrepiece of a National Disability
Strategy.
The Rudd government’s attempt at mee-too Carer Recognition Legislation falls far short of
the robust and practical legislative measures which Carers Alliance has in mind. The
Carers Alliance calls for Carer Recognition Legislation similar to that enacted in the UK
which gives carers the following:
1.
Entitlement to assessment of needs and provision of services to assist carers
2.
Entitlement to find and secure employment, undertake tertiary and vocational
education and training and leisure-time
3.
Entitlement to assessment of the ability of the carer to provide care
We welcome the Rudd governments concern for the health and well-being needs of
carers. But, unless and until carers are given the practical means to participate to the
fullest extent possible in the social and economic life others take for granted, then all the
worthy words: goals, strategies, frameworks and Carer Recognition Grants are hollow
rhetoric and carers have had enough hollow rhetoric.
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Contact Marylou Carter, Party Secretary
0425-363-421
NEWS 
