Carers Week 2012 – Be Care Aware
Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers, Jan McLucas and Member for Blaxland, Jason Clare today visited the Recreation Sports and Aquatics Club in Bankstown for an afternoon tea to celebrate Carers Week and recognise the contribution of local carers in the community.
Carers Week runs from 14- 20 October and is a national celebration which aims to recognise and support Australia’s 2.6 million carers who are making a difference in the lives of others.
Mr Clare said he was grateful for the opportunity to meet with so many carers in his electorate who were working, sometimes 24 hours a day, to care for a friend, family member or others in the community.
“This week is about recognising the remarkable commitment and dedication that carers demonstrate day in, day out. I am proud to show my support for the many carers in our community,” Mr Clare said.
Mr Clare said that the Australian Government knows just how important the role of carers is in the lives of millions of Australians.
“That’s why we are delivering $60 million through the National Carer Strategy, including a $53.4 million boost to respite services for carers of people with severe mental illness and a national campaign to raise public awareness of the role and contribution of carers.”
The Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers, Senator Jan McLucas said the Government is also delivering $1 billion for the launch of a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in mid-2013.
“More than 20,000 Australians with disability, their families and carers will benefit from the first stage of an NDIS from the middle of next year.”
“An NDIS will build on the steps our government has already taken to support carers, such as historic increases to the Carer Payment, a permanent $600 Carer Supplement, and a $53.4 million boost to respite services for carers of people with severe mental illness.”
Mr Clare also congratulated the Recreation Sports and Aquatics Club on their ongoing commitment and dedication to promoting social inclusion for people with disability.
“The Paralympics highlighted the importance of seeing the person and not the disability,” he said.
“The programs that are run at the Recreation Sports and Aquatics Club play an integral role in creating an inclusive and accessible society for people of all abilities.”
Mr Clare thanked the Recreation Sports and Aquatics Club for hosting the Carers Week afternoon tea.
Carers Week is a Carers Australia initiative and is supported by the Australian Government through the National Carer Strategy.
For more information on the Australian Government funded support services for carers, visit http://australia.gov.au/people/carers.
To find out more about Carers Week, visit the Carers Australia website, www.carersaustralia.com.au.