Are you a carer?

Are you supporting your children, parents, relatives or friends with daily activities and tasks?

If so you may be eligible for free support through the Australian Government’s Carer Gateway initiative.

In Australia it is estimated that 1 in 11 people currently find themselves in a caring role, helping people with their day-to-day living.

The support carers may provide can include:

• preparing meals
• bathing
• dressing
• going to the bathroom
• taking medicine

You could also look after someone who is mostly independent but needs help with certain tasks such as banking, transport, shopping or housework.

The path to becoming a carer is not always a simple one, people become carers in a whole range of ways. You might start helping someone out with one task a week (little by little); or you might provide care all of the time or only on occasion. Sometimes it can happen suddenly due to accident or illness while in other instances you might have time to prepare and plan to become a carer.

The official definition for carer – under the Australian Government Recognition Act 2010 is someone who gives care and support to a relative or friend who:

• has a disability
• has a medical condition (terminal or chronic illness)
• has a mental illness
• is frail because they are old (known as ‘frail and aged’)

If you are employed to look after someone, work as a volunteer for an organisation or are doing work experience as part of a course you are not considered to be a carer.

selectability understands that carers perform an essential role that is generally taken on with little support or training. As a regional delivery partner of the Australian Government Carer Gateway initiative we are committed to supporting the wellbeing of carers across regional Queensland.

We deliver a range of free Carer Gateway services including counselling, respite care and in-person coaching.

For more information you can email the team at carergateway@selectability.com.au.