House of Representatives Committees

| House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family, Community, Housing and Youth

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Who Cares ...? Report on the inquiry into better support for carers

25 May 2009

© Commonwealth of Australia 2009
ISBN 978-0-642-79168-9 (Printed version)
ISBN 978-0-642-79169-6 (HTML version)

View the report as a single document - (PDF 3655KB)


View the report as separate downloadable parts:

 
Preliminary Pages (PDF 145KB)

Foreword
Membership of the Committee
Committee Secretariat
Terms of reference
List of abbreviations
List of recommendations

 
Chapter 1 Conduct and Context of the Inquiry (PDF 152KB)

Context of the Inquiry
Current Australian Government Policy Reviews
Inquiry into Australia’s Future Tax System
Pension Review
Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Reform Agenda
National Disability Agreement
National Disability Strategy
National Mental Health and Disability Employment Strategy
Disability Investment Group
Recent or Current Australian Parliamentary Inquiries
Key Themes Emerging from this Inquiry

 
Chapter 2 Carer Identification, Demographics and Supports and Services (PDF 202KB)

Definition and Use of the Term ‘Carer’
Meaning and Use of the Term Carer in the Inquiry
‘Hidden’ Carers
Carer Identification
The Need for Increased Carer Self-Identification
Carer Identification through Surveys
Amendments to the Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers
The Demographic and Socio-Economic Profile of Carers
Changing Models of Care and Implications of Demographic and Social Trends
Consideration of the Implications of Demographics and Social Change
Government Administration of Supports and Services
Administration of Government Supports and Services for Carers and Care Receivers
Financial Assistance for Carers
Concession Cards
Australian Government Programs and Services
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
Department of Health and Ageing
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
State and Territory Government Programs and Services

 
Chapter 3 A National and Strategic Approach to Carer Recognition and Policy (PDF 250KB)

The Role and Contribution of Carers
Carer Recognition
Increased Community Awareness
A National Community Education Campaign
Carer Recognition through Legislation and Policy
The Framework of Existing Legislation and Policy
The Need for Review of Existing Carer Legislation and Policy
A National and Whole of Government Approach to Carer Legislation and Policy
Support for National Carer Legislation and Policy
A National Coordination Mechanism or Office for Carers
Support for Increased Coordination

 
Chapter 4 Information, Skills and Capacity Building (PDF 283KB)

Diversity of Information Needs
Barriers to Information Access
National Networks Providing Information
A Single Access Point for Carers
Peer Support Groups
Skills Development and Capacity Building
Coordination and Representation
Advocacy for Carers
Individual Advocacy
Systemic Carer Advocacy
Carers as Partners in Care
Substitute Decision Making

 
Chapter 5 Financial Assistance (PDF 271KB)

Financial Implications of Providing Care
Government Financial Assistance for Carers
Means Testing of Carer Payment
Carer Bonuses
Reform to the Income Support Systems for Carers
Application and Assessment Processes for Income Support for Carers
An Improved Approach to the Administration of Income Support for Carers
Costs of Disability and Caring
Initiatives to Assist with the Additional Costs of Disability and Caring
Concession Cards and Allowances
National Disability Insurance Scheme
Future and Long Term Financial Security
Improving the Long-Term Financial Security of Carers
Improving the Long-Term Financial Security of Care Receivers

 
Chapter 6 Access to Supports and Services (PDF 282KB)

Community Care Services
The Accessibility and Availability of Community Care Services
Eligibility and Assessments for Accessing Services
Community Care Services in Regional and Remote Locations
Community Care Services for Indigenous Carers
Respite Care Services and In-Home Assistance
Availability of Respite Care Services
Affordability of Respite
Respite Needs to be Flexible
The Urgent Need for More Respite
In-Home Assistance for Carers
Waiting Lists as a Response to the Lack of Community Care Services
Options for Reform
Better Coordination
Innovative Funding Models
The Need for Improved Data and Forward Planning
The Community Care Workforce
Availability of Services for Care Receivers

 
Chapter 7 Employment and Education (PDF 282KB)

Carer Participation in Paid Employment
Barriers to Participation in Paid Employment for Carers
Access to Alternative and Suitable Care
Employed Carers Respite Initiative
Tax Relief for Alternative Care
Flexible Work Arrangements
Flexible Work Arrangements and Legislation
Employment and Workplace Advisory Services
Returning to the Paid Employment after a Period of Absence
Carer Income Support and Participation in the Workforce and Education
Carers and Education

 
Chapter 8 Health and Wellbeing (PDF 214KB)

The Impact of Caring on the Health and Wellbeing of Carers
Physical Health of Carers
Improving the Physical Health of Carers
The Psychological and Emotional Wellbeing of Carers
The Need for ‘Time Out’ in the Caring Role
The Need for Psychological Support and Counselling
The Impact on Other Members of the Family
Social Isolation

 
Additional Comments — The Hon Judi Moylan MP (PDF 51KB)
 
Appendix A – List of Submissions (PDF 122KB)
 
Appendix B – List of Exhibits (PDF 65KB)
 
Appendix C – List of Public Hearings (PDF 83KB)
 
Appendix D - Payment costs and recipients 2006-07 (PDF 63KB)
 
Appendix E - Income support payments as at 1 July 2008 (PDF 63KB)
 
Appendix F - Supplementary payments as at 1 July 2008 (PDF 72KB)

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