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Content about Carers rights movement

October 12, 2010
Who cares? A film for carers - part 1

Part one of a three part series looking at how mental illness can effect other family members.

Part One of a three part film highlighting how mental illness can effect family members who often become carers. The responsibility can be overwhelming and these films aim to spread the word that carers are not alone in their struggle, and that help is out there.

February 28, 2012
An invitation to participate in a Mental Health Project Consultation

Carers NSW is seeking carers willing to share their experiences of supporting someone with a serious mental health problem to help inform the development of a new Education Package with a specific focus on understanding risks of violent behaviour and its effect on family and carers.

Carers NSW is seeking carers willing to share their experiences of supporting someone with a serious mental health problem to help inform the development of a new Education Package.

The aim of the program is to examine the serious risks of mental illness, with a specific focus on understanding risks of violent behaviour and its effect on family and carers. The final resource will help educate carers to help them understand what is happening to their relative, how to respond, and the importance of effective contact with mental health services.

February 28, 2012
The Triangle of Care - Summary

The Triangle of Care is a guide jointly published in the UK by The Princess Royal Trust for Carers emphasizing the need for better involvement of carers and families in the care planning and treatment of people with mental ill-health.

Here is a summary of the general principles of this guide and links to further information that carers, consumers and clinicians may find of interest.

The Triangle of Care is a guide jointly published by The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and the National Mental Health Development Unit emphasizing the need for better local strategic involvement of carers and families in the care planning and treatment of people with mental ill-health.

January 30, 2012
Chief of newly launched National Mental Health Commission 'informed by experience' in his role

 

National Mental Health Commission formally launched! Alan Fels - as new Chief and a mental health carer - to look at the needs of consumers and carers.

Alan Fels, the newly created National Mental Health Commission, is not alien to the needs and issues facing family, friends and carers of people suffering mental illness. His daughter was diagnosed with schizoprehenia 17 years ago and he knows, first hand, the stress and burden families and carers have to deal with daily, and the long term prospects of providing on going care, as carers themselves age.

November 22, 2011
ARAFMI NSW CARER SURVEY NO. 1 ‘The Carer’s Experience’– 2009 Results

In 2009 ARAFMI conducted a survey of members and other carers about the implementation of the primary carer changes in the Mental Health Act 2007.

The purpose of this survey was to better understand the impact that the recognition of the role of Primary Carer in the Act has had on the treatment of carers by Mental Health Services in NSW. It also asked about the information carers would have liked to receive both before their loved one’s admission and before discharge back into the community. ARAFMI is repeating this survey today but here are the results of that original inquiry.

The purpose of this survey was to better understand the impact that the recognition of the role of Primary Carer in the recently passed NSW Mental Health Act 2007 has had on the treatment of carers by Mental Health Services in NSW. It also asked about the information carers would have liked to receive both before their loved one’s admission and before discharge back into the community.

November 22, 2011
The Welfare Rights Centre (WRC)

The Welfare Rights Centre is an independent community legal centre specializing in social security law and issues associated with Centrelink benefit payments etc.  Find out all about Carer Allowance Facts and basic criteria and other issues relevant for carers and the people they help support.

The Welfare Rights Centre, is an independent community legal centre specializing in social security law and issues associated with Centrelink benefit payments etc.  The Centre services all of NSW excluding the Illawarra which has its own separate similar service.

 Essentially there are three key areas that WRC is able to provide advice on:

 Qualification determination meaning  assessment criteria and means to access Carer Payments, Carer allowance, Newstart  etc

November 14, 2011
On line 'Mental Health Carer Survey,' now available to complete until Christmas 2011!

The on-line 'Mental Health Carer Survey' is available for completion. Mental health carers and those that work with carers are urged to participate , to have their colletctive voices heard. Please complete before 25 December (Christmas day) 2011. Click  Mental-Health-Carers-Survey-2011-12.  This is an important project that influence mental health policy and project development.  Have your voice heard!

The online Mental Health Carer Survey 2011-12 is available now to all mental health carers to complete and convey their position. The survey will remain open until Christmas Day.  If you are a mental health carer please complete the survey or if you work with carers please pass on this link:  Mental-Health-Carers-Survey-2011-12

October 31, 2011
Report on NSW Ombudsman’s Consultation of Mental Health Carers with ARAFMI NSW Inc

A consultation with carers to support the NSW Ombudsman’s Inquiry into the access of mental health inpatients to accommodation and support services was held on October 4th 2011 at ARAFMI’s offices in Woolloomooloo. Read a summary of some of the general issues raised in our report.

A consultation with carers to support the NSW Ombudsman’s Inquiry into the access of mental health inpatients to accommodation and support services was held on October 4th 2011 at ARAFMI’s offices in Woolloomooloo.

This consultation is being conducted as part of aninquiry into the roles and responsibilities of the Departments of Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC) and NSW Health to provide services for mental health in-patients who are not being discharged due to a reported lack of community based support and accommodation options.

September 30, 2011
Reviewing the Implementation of Primary Carers Rights under the Mental Health Act 2007

The new Mental Health Act introduced in 2007 for the first time explicitly recognised the role of carers in mental health care. In 2009 ARAFMI conducted a survey of carers to understand how the primary carer changes had been implemented across NSW and how beneficial they had been. Now, two more years later ARAFMI would like to repeat this survey to better understand how the situation has changed since that time, and what further improvements could be made.

The new Mental Health Act introduced in 2007 for the first time explicitly recognised the role of carers in mental health care.

 Section 68: (j) the role of carers for people with a mental illness or mental disorder and their rights to be kept informed should be given effect.

 Further than this it sought to address specific long-standing issues for carers in the mental health area, particularly around the exclusion of carers from information about their loved one’s treatment by the creation of the ‘primary carer’ role.

September 26, 2011
Carer hearing for NSW Ombudsman Inquiry into the access of mental health inpatients to supported accommodation

ARAFMI will be hosting representatives from the Ombudsman’s Office at ARAFMI’s NSW Offices:

Suite 501, Level 5, 80 William Street  Woolloomooloo 2011, to hear from carers interested in this issue from:

2.00pm to 4.00pm on the 4th of October 2011

The NSW Ombudsman is conducting an inquiry into the roles and responsibilities of the Departments of Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC) and NSW Health to provide services for mental health in-patients who are not being discharged due to a reported lack of community based support and accommodation options.

September 2, 2011
Who are Australia’s ‘Hidden’ Carers?

The 2011 Census represented only the second time when questions regarding Carers were included in an effort to capture statistics on how many people look after someone with a disability or illness on an unpaid basis in Australia.  The statistics captured by the Census, whilst noteworthy, only reflect those who have recognised and identified their role as that of a carer.  Accordingly, it is reasonable to expect that there are potentially far more carers in Australia than suggested by statistics. Who are these ‘Hidden Carers’? Are you?

Defining the act of Caring

 The 2011 Census represented only the second time when questions regarding Carers were included in an effort to capture statistics on how many people look after someone with a disability or illness on an unpaid basis in Australia.  Everyday tasks or actions considered “assistance” or support given by a carer were listed in the Census as a means to help classify a carer.  Accordingly, a carer role involves:

August 5, 2011
National Carer Strategy Launched

National Carer Strategy launched to deliver $60M of new funding to Australia's 2.6m carers!

Improved recognition and support to Australia 2.4M carer's was given in the form of $60M new funding over the next four years announced by the Minister of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, the Minister for Health Nicola Roxon and the Parliamentary Secretary of Disabilities and Carers, Senator Jan McLucas, on August 3rd.

Under this National Carer Strategy the funding will see:

July 28, 2011
What is a carer?...

In the last issue, the role of ARAFMI’s (the Association of Friends and Family of the Mentally Ill) , as the peak carer organisation specifically set up by carers of people living with mental illness to support other carers facing challenges in their role, was explained.  In this issue, the focus on mental health carers continues, to firstly explain “What is a carer?” more specifically the characteristics of a mental health carer, and how State and Federal Mental Health laws define them.

In the last issue, the role of ARAFMI’s (the Association of Friends and Family of the Mentally Ill) , as the peak carer organisation specifically set up by carers of people living with mental illness to support other carers facing challenges in their role, was explained.  In this issue, the focus on mental health carers continues, to firstly explain “What is a carer?” more specifically the characteristics of a mental health carer, and how State and Federal Mental Health laws define them.

 Definition of a Carer

June 30, 2011
Tribute to Margaret Lukes, ARAFMI Founder

Margaret Frances LUKES OAM; Founder of ARAFMI Passes Away

April 15, 2011
Seeking stories from consumers and carers – improving the mental health of children

Children of Parents with a Mental Illness (COPMI) are collecting stories of Consumer and Carer Participation where the outcome is improved mental health for children of parents with a mental illness.

 

Children of Parents with a Mental Illness (COPMI) are collecting stories of Consumer and Carer Participation where the outcome is improved mental health for children of parents with a mental illness.

February 2, 2011
New Executive Officer for Mental Health Carers Arafmi Australia

National ARAFMI appoints its first Executive Officer

Warren Jenkins: New Executive Officer for Mental Health Carers Arafmi Australia

 It is with great pleasure that I am able to announce the appointment of experienced mental health carer Warren Jenkins to the position of Executive Officer of Mental Health Carers Arafmi Australia (MHCAA).

December 9, 2010
Anglicare Report - Care to live or live to care? (2010)

This recent report by Anglicare reports on findings over 2 years from 289 participants in the Support Coordination Program for ageing parent carers. 

Care to live or live to care? An insight into the experiences of ageing parent carers

ANGLICARE Diocese of Sydney: Sue King, Johnson Nsiah, Caitlin McDowell and John Bellamy, October 2010

November 23, 2010
CEO travels to Canberra

CEO meets with National Mental Health Minister in Canberra.

For the last week or so I have been travelling to Canberra for a number of engagements and meetings. It started with the Mental Health Council of Australia's Annual General Meeting and Members' Policy Forum. The Policy Forum is a means for members of the Mental Health Council to advise the Board and Executive of their  particular needs and the focus of the council over the next 12 months.

October 26, 2010
Carer Recognition Bill 2010

The Carer Recognition Bill 2010 was introduced into Parliament on 29 September 2010 and is subject to passage through Parliament.

The Carer Recognition Bill 2010 was introduced into Parliament on 29 September 2010.

According to the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FAHCSIA), "Legislation is currently before the Parliament to formally acknowledge the valuable contribution that carers make to Australian society.

October 18, 2010
Rural Carers Needs Analysis, 2008

The issues that are facing carers of mental health patients in rural and remote areas of NSW are unique and not very well addressed by the current systems in place. This report addresses those issues.

October 17, 2010
Adversity to Advocacy: Australia's first survey of mental health carers

The results of Adversity to Advocacy, released in October 2009, give a unique insight into the diffculties and concerns of Australians caring for someone with a mental illness.

Adversity to Advocacy is Australia’s frst ever national survey of mental health carers. The results, released in October 2009, give a unique insight into the diffculties and concerns of Australians caring for someone with a mental illness.

October 17, 2010
Carer Recognition Bill 2010

A statement for Australia’s Carers which includes ten key principles regarding carers and how they  should be treated by Commonwealth public service agencies and their funded providers.

The Carer Recognition Bill 2010 creates a statement for Australia’s Carers which includes ten key principles regarding carers and how they  should be treated by Commonwealth public service agencies and their funded providers. However, the Bill does not establish carers’ rights or create legally enforceable obligations for carers, public service care agencies or associated providers.

October 17, 2010
Report on Young Carers in Australia, 2009

A social policy research paper

This is a research paper released by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs in 2009, entitled Young carers in Australia: Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of their care giving

Read the full report by clicking on the attachment below.

October 12, 2010
Who cares? A film for carers - part 2

Part two of the three part series.

Part Two of a three part film highlighting how mental illness can effect family members who often become carers. These films aim to spread the word that carers are not alone in their struggle, that help is out there.

July 6, 2010
Mental Health Carers ARAFMI NSW 35th Anniversary Conference

Attend our national conference for carers, mental health professionals, service providers and interested members of the community. 

"National Challenges - Local Solutions"

To celebrate 35 years of providing support to families and friends of a people with a mental illness ARAFMI NSW is holding a national conference for carers, mental health professionals, service providers and anyone in the community who is interested in mental health.