Supporting families and carers

Support for families and carers of people with disability

DisabilityCare Australia will provide families and carers with the peace of mind that there is a structured plan in place that will mean the person they care for has security into the future.

For too long the system has pushed families and carers, particularly parents, to crisis point where they may struggle to continue in their caring role. To support and sustain informal care arrangements, DisabilityCare Australia will work with families and carers to understand their needs as well as the needs of the person they care for.

Ensuring care and support is sustainable

DisabilityCare Australia will not replace families and carers, but it will make it easier for people to continue to provide support by ensuring they get the assistance and respite they need.

DisabilityCare Australia will provide families and carers with information on a range of services to assist them, such as referrals that link them with community and carer services.

Average current weekly hours spent caring

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia, 2009.

Support for families and carers

Ben, who is 38 years old and lives in Geelong in Victoria, has cerebral palsy. Ben has always lived with his mother, Ruth, who provides all of his care and support.

Ben and his mother visit a DisabilityCare Australia office to seek support for his needs. A planner from DisabilityCare Australia talks to them about Ben's goals, such as achieving greater independence.

Ben tells the planner that he would like to be less dependent on his mother, particularly for his personal care needs. Ruth is worried that a time will come when she will no longer be able to be Ben's sole carer.

Ben's agreed plan provides support to increase his independence over time. This includes therapies and training to develop his problem solving skills, memory and movement, and a support worker to assist with self‑care and performing household tasks.

Ruth's care remains central but Ben's plan allows Ruth to reduce the assistance she provides for him over time, with the knowledge that he will continue to receive the supports he needs.