Our Carer Support Program
Our Carer Support Program promotes carers as valued and respected partners in health care. We achieve this by educating and supporting health staff to identify and consult with carers and to recognise carer expertise.
Our service and commitment to carers is guided by the NSW Carers (Recognition) Act 2010 No 20.
To learn more, contact Southern NSW Local Health District's Carer Support Program Lead at 1800 662 167 from Monday to Friday between 8.30am to 5pm.
Who is a carer?
A carer is someone—a partner, parent, relative, friend or neighbour—who regularly provides personal care, help and support to someone with a disability and/or medical condition. The condition can be terminal, chronic, a mental illness or someone who is experiencing aged-related frailty.
Carers are not paid for their role, though they may receive a Centrelink allowance or payment.
Anyone, at any time in their life, can become a carer. Carers are a very diverse group of people of differing ages and backgrounds with each caring situation being unique.
Caring may involve a few hours assistance per week through to sustained 24-hour care. It may also involve balancing full or part time work with caring responsibilities.
A carer may help with a range of activities including personal care such as:
- mobility
- transport
- housework
- communication
- meal preparation
- showering or dressing
- financial management
- medication management
- social and emotional support
- other aspects of the person’s daily life.
Tips for carers - taking care of yourself
Carers are vulnerable to stress because of the physical and emotional demands of caring. Stress could bring physical symptoms like headaches, difficulty sleeping, anxiety, or feeling very emotional.
Although it can be difficult, you need to consider your own needs as well as those of the person you are caring for.
If your health begins to suffer, caring will become more difficult, and it will not be easy to continue doing all the things you need to do.
The following tips about how to take better care of yourself may help you.
1
Stay healthy
- making time for regular exercise - this will help you feel more energetic and provide a break from your daily activities.
- having healthy regular meals - this is not always easy to do, but it is important for your long-term health and wellbeing.
- getting enough rest and sleep - tiredness and exhaustion can add to the stress of caring for someone.
- looking after your back - make sure to get professional advice on the safest way to lift or transfer the person you are caring for and get any available aids to assist you.
2
Take breaks and time for yourself
- Resting is important if you need to constantly care for someone. Don't be afraid to ask for help.
- Get into the habit of making time for yourself as a regular part of your day. Don't feel guilty - this is time for you!
- Planning ahead and pacing yourself will help. Plan activities like housework or running errands for when you feel you have the most energy.
- You can take breaks in your home or away from home. It could be for a few hours, a day, overnight, or longer. Some examples of breaks are: having a massage, attending an exercise class, enjoying a coffee with a friend, going on a short break or longer holiday.
- The breaks you take will depend on what suits you and the person you are caring for, as well as the services that are available in your local area.
Helpful resource: Respite care services can help you plan for regular breaks. To learn more and get support, call the Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre at 1800 052 222.
3
Get out and about
- Carve out time for or continue with activities you enjoy. Developing and/or maintaining your own interests outside of your caring role can help your general health and wellbeing.
- Some carers say that they feel guilty when they leave the house or enjoy an activity without the person they are caring for. If you are finding it difficult to get out and about, it can help to talk to someone about how you are feeling.
4
Practice relaxation
- It can be easier said than done - but you need to take time for yourself everyday - even just 15 minutes can do wonders.
- Take some time to sit and relax, read, listen to your favourite music, guided relaxation or meditation.
5
Connect with others
It is easy to feel isolated when you're a carer. You might be too busy to catch up with friends and family, and people may visit less often.
- Talking to someone who understands what you are going through can be a great relief.
- Share your experiences with someone you trust can help you. This can help you feel less isolated and alone.
6
Join a carer support group
Have you thought about joining a support group? It's a great way to:
- meet other carers in a similar situation to yourself
- have a break from your caring role
- share and exchange ideas, feelings, worries or problems - it can help you feel less isolated.
- access information and resources about available support services for carers in your local community
Carers NSW can help connect you with a carer support group in your area. To learn more and access support visit the Carers NSW website or call 1800 242 636.
Carer Gateway
Carer Gateway is an Australian Government program that provides free services and support for carers.
The government works with a range of health and carer organisations across the country - known as Carer Gateway service providers - to deliver services to carers no matter where they live in Australia.
Services offered include:
online skills course
carer support planning
in-person and phone counselling
carer directed support packages
respite services, including emergency respite
in-person and online peer support and self-guided coaching.
If you care for a family member or friend with a disability, medical condition, mental illness, or a person who is frail due to age, then Carer Gateway can help you.
Visit Carer Gateway to learn more or call 1800 422 737 (Monday to Friday) to learn more.
Carers NSW
Carers NSW is a non-government organisation that offers information, resources, emotional support and counselling programs.
Carers and service providers can benefit from a range of helpful education sessions and workshops. It can help carers build capacity, skills and knowledge as well as improve their health and wellbeing.
Services offered include:
carer career pathways, support and skills guidance
education and training for carers and service providers
support for children and young people with a caring role
support for employers that want to become more carer friendly.
Visit Carers NSW Australia or call (02) 9280 4744 between 9am-5pm from Monday to Friday to learn more about carer information and support.
Financial and travel assistance
To find about payments and allowances available for NSW carers, visit Services Australia - caring for someone and Carers NSW - financial support.
Carers in NSW may also be eligible for free or low-cost transportation, including subsidised taxi fares. For more information refer to transport and travel on the Carer Gateway website.
Other resources and support for carers
If you need support, you can reach out to these services:
Southern NSW LHD Mental Health Family and Carer Information Guide
Support is available for the families and the carers of people with mental illness. Refer to this guide for details about local carer support services.
File
SNSWLHD Mental Health - Family and Carer Information Guide (PDF 3.55MB)The NSW Family and Carer Mental Health Program
Support is available for the families and the carers of people with mental illness. This state-wide program is funded by NSW Health and delivered in partnership with Local Health Districts (LHDs), the Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network, and five specialist community management organisations.
Learn more about family and carer mental health support services and programs.
Young Carers NSW
Young Carers are children or young people, 25 years or under, who help or take on the caring role in their family.
The Young Carer Program at Carers NSW supports and connects young carers with information, referrals, counselling, educators, community members and workshops.
For support and advice call the Carer Gateway on 1800 422 737 or visit Young Carers NSW online.
My Aged Care
My Aged Care is the Australian Government’s contact centre for older people, as well as their families and carers, to access aged care services.
To see if you are eligible call 1800 200 422 or visit My Aged Care online.
National Disability Insurance Scheme
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is Australia’s first national scheme for people with disability. It provides individualised support for people with permanent and significant disability, their families and carers.
To see if you are eligible call 1800 800 110 or visit the NDIS website.