Make carers a priority for the WA government

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Speaking up for WA carers: State Election 2021

In the lead up to the state election in March, Carers WA in consultation with our membership, has identified two specific priorities for carers in Western Australia.

If you are a carer or someone within the caring community and would like to support the recommendations, please follow the below instructions to send a prefilled email to your local MP.

Election priorities:

Priority 1: Promotion of carer recognition

We call on candidates to commit to promptly completing the review of the Carer Recognition Act 2004 and to support changes which enhance the rights ...

Speaking up for WA carers: State Election 2021

In the lead up to the state election in March, Carers WA in consultation with our membership, has identified two specific priorities for carers in Western Australia.

If you are a carer or someone within the caring community and would like to support the recommendations, please follow the below instructions to send a prefilled email to your local MP.

Election priorities:

Priority 1: Promotion of carer recognition

We call on candidates to commit to promptly completing the review of the Carer Recognition Act 2004 and to support changes which enhance the rights and recognition of carers.

Priority 2: Provision of respite

We call on candidates to commit to funding carer respite facilities in WA to allow carers to continue in their important roles.

View the full factsheet outlining these priorities on our website.

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Speak up for WA carers

Email your local member to make sure the needs of carers are prioritised in the upcoming 2021 state election.

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Subject:

Speaking up for WA Carers: State Election 2021

In the lead up to the state election in March, I would like to highlight some issues which are important to me as a carer.

I am one of at least 230,000 carers in Western Australia providing unpaid support to a person with disability, mental illness, a chronic condition, terminal illness, an alcohol or other drug issue or who is frail aged.  I am concerned that carers are not recognised by health, disability and aged care service providers and by government agencies.  I would like to see increased respite opportunities so I can maintain my own health and wellbeing to allow me to continue to care for my loved one.

Priority 1: Promotion of carer recognition

A review of the Carers Recognition Act 2004 began in 2018 with carers and the community consulted about the impact of the Act and changes required to improve carer recognition.  A report to the Minister was originally due by the end of 2018.  This report is yet to be completed.  Carers are disappointed in the progress made by the current government on this review.

Will you commit to promptly completing the review of the Carer Recognition Act 2004 and be supportive of changes which enhance the rights and recognition of carers?

Priority 2: Provision of adequate social connection, resilience building and respite facilities to allow carers to maintain their important caring role

In the recent 2020 National Carer Survey, WA carers reported higher levels of social isolation than their national counterparts, with 39.7% of respondents reporting as highly socially isolated and a further 25% reporting low levels of social support.  These results explain the higher levels of psychological distress experienced by WA carers, with 53.1% of WA carers reporting high or very high levels of psychological distress. In addition, one in three respondents never get time out from their caring responsibilities and half of respondents reported not having enough time to keep on top of other responsibilities.

Will you commit to funding carer respite facilities in WA to allow carers to continue in their important roles?

Further information on these priorities can be found at www.carerswa.asn.au/speakingupforcarers

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