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Support for Carers

Carers are people who provide unpaid care and support to family members and friends who have a disability, mental illness, chronic condition, terminal illness, an alcohol or other drug issue or who are frail aged.

Carers are an integral part of Australia’s health system and are the foundation of our aged, disability, palliative and community care systems.

 

It is a role that is often not sought after but rather acquired as part of ones life journey.

The role of a Carer looks differently day to day, and may include help and support with any of the daily activities of living of the person being cared for. It may include physical and personal care such as dressing, bathing, toileting, feeding, or providing transport - or it may be emotional support, skill building or companionship.

photo of a mother hugging her son

Where to go for help?

The role of a Carer can be extremely rewarding, however it can be taxing on an individual Physically and Emotionally. It is important to ensure that you are looking after yourself first, in order to continue providing care to you loved ones. 


• Does your caring role regularly prevent you from looking after yourself, taking time out or meeting other family responsibilities or activities?

• Does it prevent you from undertaking domestic tasks such as shopping or cleaning, or attending your own medical appointments?

• Does it isolate you from other family and friends or social activities?

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The following links provide useful information and support for Carers to manage the day to day and long term impact of caring for a loved one

Financial Support

Carer Payment

Carers who provide full-time care may be eligible for the fortnightly Carer Payment to help them meet their basic costs of living. 

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Carer Allowance

The Carer Allowance is a fortnightly payment to carers of someone with a severe disability or illness or who is frail aged to assist with the additional costs of caring on top of their usual costs of daily living.
 

Carer Supplement

The Carer Supplement is an annual payment of $600 which is attached to each Carer Allowance.  The Supplement is paid in July each year. 

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Child Disability Assistance

An Automatic annual payment of $1000 for Carers receiving Carer Allowance, for children 16 years or younger. The Child disability assistance payment is paid in July each year.

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Carer Adjustment

The Carer Adjustment payment is a once off payment of up to $10,000 to assist families with a catastrophic event where a child younger than 7 is diagnosed with a severe disability or severe medical condition. 

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Other payments

There are a range of other payments which carers can get under some circumstances.

They cover such things as special payments to carers of children with disability, payments to assist with the costs of raising children, incontinence aids and the running of medical equipment and medically required temperature control.

To learn more and check eligibility visit the Services Australia page

Concession Cards

Companion Card

Companion Cardholders show their card when booking or purchasing a ticket from a participating business, called an Affiliate. Affiliates will recognise the Companion Card and issue the cardholder with a second ticket for their companion at no charge.
Apply for your Companion Card
Companion Card WA | National Disability Services (wacompanioncard.org.au)

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Qantas Carer Concession Card

The Qantas Carer Concession Card is issued to people with significant support requirements who through a physical, sensory, intellectual, cognitive or psychosocial disability are unable to travel on the aircraft without the full-time assistance of a carer. 
 

Qantas Carer Concession cardholders and their nominated carer will receive the following discounts on eligible domestic fares for flights operated by Qantas.

Economy Travel:

10% discount for cardholders and 50% discount for nominated carers on the base fare of eligible Domestic Red e-Deal and Flex Economy Class fares (excluding fees and ticket taxes)*

Business Class Travel:

50% discount for cardholders and for nominated carers on the base fare of eligible Domestic Business Class Fares (excluding fees and ticket taxes)*


Apply for your Qantas Carer Concession Card
Qantas Carer Concession Card – People with Disability Australia (pwd.org.au)

Online Resources & Support - Including Counselling & Respite

Carer Gateway

Carer Gateway is an Australian Government program providing free services and support for carers.

If you care for a family member or friend with disability, a medical condition, mental illness, or who is frail due to age, then Carer Gateway can help you.

The Australian Government works with a range of health and carer organisations across Australia, known as Carer Gateway service providers, to deliver services to carers no matter where they live in Australia.

Carer Gateway provides many services to support carers in their caring role, including:


Home | Carer Gateway

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Carers WA

Carers WA is the peak body that represents the needs and interests of carers in Western Australia. We work to achieve an improved quality of life for family carers in our state.
Our role is to work in active partnership with carers, persons with care and support needs, health professionals, service providers, government and the wider community to achieve an improved quality of life for carers.
Our services include the provision of specialist information and advice, resources, carer support through counselling, education/training, social support and carer advocacy and representation.

Our Services | Financial, Health & Lifestyle Planning Support | Carers WA

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NDIS

While the NDIS plan focuses on the person you care for, the types of supports in the NDIS plan may also have direct or indirect benefits for you as a carer. These may include:

  • Family support, training and counselling in matters relating to caring for a person with a disability

  • Building skills and capacity of other family members to help manage how disability affects family life

  • Supports that increase the participant’s independence, and ability for the participant to enjoy social and community activities independent of their carers

  • Supports to help with the role of caring, such as personal care and domestic help related to the person’s disability

  • A support worker to be included in family outings to help the person with disability, especially if the family has other children

  • Access to respite care to give carers a break from their caring responsibilities

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Learn More

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Young Carers

Young carers are a person up to the age of 25 years old who provides unpaid care and support to a loved one, including family members, or friends with a disability, physical or mental illness, a substance dependency or who is aged.

The YCN is a nationally coordinated resource to raise young carer awareness, provide information, and direct young carers to appropriate pathways for support.

We work to enable young carers to engage with each other through a range of opportunities to share and connect.

What can I do on the Young Carers Network?

Forward Planning

Emergency Care Plan

An emergency care plan makes it easy for someone to take over from you in a hurry. It has all the information about the person you care for in one place, so you can get it quickly and easily.

The emergency care plan has:

  • emergency contacts

  • the care needs of the person you care for

  • medical information and contacts

  • a medicine list

  • carer emergency cards

    Download Your Emergency Care Plan Guide
    Emergency Care Plan | Carer Gateway

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Advance Care Planning

Advance care planning is a discussion exploring a person’s values and preferences for their future health care, including end-of-life care. This can be a discussion among family and friends at any stage of life. If a person is older, has had a chronic illness for a long time, or has dementia or other cognitive impairment, it will often involve doctors or other health professionals.  

Advance care planning may lead to the completion of an Advance Care Directive. 


Learn More or Create your Plan

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