The Community Action Party values the enormous contribution that carers make to the ACT community. Few other groups work as hard for so little financial reward or social recognition. They are amongst the poorest, most disadvantaged and least supported members of our community.
Almost everyone will need care or become a carer at some time in their lives. Carers provide unpaid care and support to people with a disability, a chronic physical or mental illness, the aged, frail or terminally ill, or to someone with substance abuse issues. In aged care alone, family members in the home provide an estimated 95% of the necessary care.
The ACT government has focused on those needing care through expenditure on health system infrastructure, rather than on supporting carers to help them in their caring role. The Party will work with carers, communities and governments to develop long-term strategies to address the current and future needs of the ACT's carers.
Services
The Party recognises that carers of all ages need more support services to reduce the emotional and financial burdens of caring, with carers choosing the type and level of support that suits their needs.
The Party will ensure proper consultation with carers about all ACT Government policy changes that affect them and the people for whom they care.
The Party supports greater cooperation and coordination among carer organisations rather than government-mandated economic competition.
The Party supports the introduction of a National Carers' Card, with eligibility linked to the recipients' level of need.
The Party supports parking concessions for carers.
Facilities
The Party supports the development of multiuse community centres that build community cohesion by offering a range of socially inclusive services for all ages.
The Party will lobby the Federal Government to increase investment in emergency, short-term, and long-term respite care, including day care centres for the aged and holiday programs for children with disabilities.
The Party will investigate the provision of integrated supported accommodation for high dependency care so that carers can continue living with their ageing or disabled family members when they require full-time formal care.
Training
The Party believes that the ACT Government should subsidise training in the caring industry to attract and retain staff, especially in areas of growing need.
The Party supports the provision of free training and peer support programs for carers so that they can help the people they care for become as independent as possible.
The Party will encourage work experience and voluntary service in the caring sector.
Careers
The Party believes that carers deserve assistance and support so they can maintain and update their job skills to re-enter the workforce if desired.
The Party will encourage employers to provide flexible working conditions to allow carers to participate more fully in community life.