Media Release by The Hon Jenny Macklin MP

New online resource to help out-of-home carers

Joint Media Release with:

  • The Hon Jenny Macklin MP, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and
    Janelle Saffin MP, Member for Page

  • The Hon Julie Collins MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Community Services
    Janelle Saffin MP, Member for Page

Out-of-home carers across the nation will have better access to information about government and non-government support and services thanks to a new Australian Government online resource.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Community Services, Julie Collins, today met with carers in Lismore to launch the new carers’ online resource.

The online resource will improve carers’ awareness of the supports and services available to them, by bringing together information on Commonwealth and state and territory government payments, supports and services and non-government services on one webpage.

It will provide information for carers and make it easier for people to find what out what assistance is available to them.

The online resource is supported by information products such as brochures, magnets and posters which will be distributed to General Practitioners throughout Australia.

The Gillard Government recognises the enormous social and economic contribution carers make to our communities.

Carers devote a great deal of their time and make considerable sacrifices to raise children who can no longer live with their birth parents.

The Government is committed to making sure that carers are recognised and supported, including ensuring they are aware of the wide range of services they are eligible for.

The resource is part of the Government’s commitment to improving support for carers under the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children.

As part of the National Framework, the Government commissioned the report, Financial and non-financial supports for formal and informal out-of-home carers to look at what is currently available for out-of-home carers, including grandparent carers.

Among other things, the report found that many carers were not aware of existing supports and services they might be able to access.

This online resource will offer carers more certainty about the services they are eligible for and provide information about who they can speak to for help and advice.

The new online resource was developed in partnership with state and territory governments and the non-government sector.

It is available at www.familyrelationships.gov.au/carers