Tasmanian Carer Action Plan

Consultation Paper Developing the Tasmanian Carer Action Plan

March 2017 Table of Contents

Consultation Paper: Developing the Tasmanian Carer Action Plan (March 2017) 2 Communities, Sport and Recreation | Department of Premier & Cabinet BACKGROUND

Recently released Australian Bureau of Stastistics (ABS) data state that there are now estimated to be over 84,000 informal carers in Tasmania, of which 28,300 are primary carers.1 The Tasmanian Carer Policy 2016 provides the following definition of a carer: 1. A carer is a person who provides, in a non-contractual and unpaid capacity, ongoing care or assistance to another person who, because of a disability, aging conditions such as frailty, mental illness, chronic illness or pain, requires assistance with everyday tasks.

2. Also, a grandparent is a carer of his or her grandchild if:

a) the child lives with the grandparent; and

b) the grandparent is the primary caregiver and decision maker for the child.

3. However, if a child’s parent or parents remain the primary caregivers and decision makers for the child, the child’s grandparent is not the child’s carer only because:

a) the grandparent cares for the child while the child’s parent or parents are working; or

b) the child, together with the child’s parents, lives with the grandparent.

4. For the purpose of this Policy, a person is not a carer:

a) simply because they are the spouse, parent, guardian or relative of a person who requires care; or

b) if the person provides the care or assistance as a volunteer for a voluntary organisation.2

It is important to recognise and understand carers’ needs and provide appropriate and relevant support to enable people to continue to provide home-based caring in the community.

1 4430.0 - Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia: Summary of Findings, 2015 2 The definition of a carer for this Policy has been based largely on the Queensland Carers (Recognition) Act 2008

Consultation Paper: Developing the Tasmanian Carer Action Plan (March 2017) Communities, Sport and Recreation | Department of Premier & Cabinet 3 The Tasmanian Government is strongly committed to supporting Tasmanian carers to participate in all aspects of community life. It also recognises the valuable role Carers Tasmania has in representing the needs and interests of carers in Tasmania.

Since the release of the original Tasmanian Carer Policy 2013 and its accompanying Action Plan, Tasmanian Government departments have made considerable progress in promoting carer awareness, supporting employees with caring responsibilities, and engaging carers in the development of relevant policies, programs and services.

Since 2013, there have been major reforms in the national social services sector. This includes the rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, My Aged Care, and the development of a new carer support and service model to be implemented by the Australian Government. At a State level, the Tasmanian Government is also implementing a number of key reforms, programs, services and policies that will shape outcomes for carers, including:  Reforms to the health system

 Reforms to the mental health system

 Reforms to the child protection system

 The Healthy Tasmania Five Year Strategic Plan

 The Affordable Housing Strategy

 The Joined Up Human Services Project

 New initiatives and programs for students with disability

 The development of an Active Ageing Strategy for Tasmania

 The development of a Transport Access Strategy

To reflect these reforms, and the current policy environment, the Tasmanian Government worked with Carers Tasmania to update the 2013 Policy to produce the Tasmanian Carer Policy 2016.

The objectives of the Tasmanian Carer Policy 2016 are to: 1. Increase the level of recognition of carers. 2. Improve the level of support and services to carers.

Consultation Paper: Developing the Tasmanian Carer Action Plan (March 2017) 4 Communities, Sport and Recreation | Department of Premier & Cabinet 3. Involve carers in the development and evaluation of policies, programs and services that affect them and their caring role.

The Tasmanian Carer Policy 2016 can be accessed at: http://www.dpac.tas.gov.au/divisions/csr/policy/Policy_Work/carer_policy_and_action_plan

Consultation Paper: Developing the Tasmanian Carer Action Plan (March 2017) Communities, Sport and Recreation | Department of Premier & Cabinet 5 WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU To implement the Tasmanian Carer Policy 2016, the Tasmanian Government is now developing a Tasmanian Carer Action Plan. The Government wants to hear from carers and organisations that support carers, to help us develop actions that are practical and respond to contemporary carer needs and issues. This paper presents three questions under the objectives of the Tasmanian Carer Policy 2016 to guide feedback. Feedback will be accepted from Monday 6 March to Monday 17 April. To provide your answers to these questions, please send your response via:

Email: [email protected] Post: Tasmanian Carer Action Plan Consultations Communities, Sport and Recreation Department of Premier and Cabinet GPO Box 123 Hobart TAS 7001

Provide your feedback through an online survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TasmanianCarerActionPlan

Face to Face Consultations – Carers Tasmania Carers Tasmania will be undertaking a number of face to face consultations around the State where carers can provide their feedback in person. To find out how to participate, contact Carers Tasmania on (03) 6231 5507.

Consultation Paper: Developing the Tasmanian Carer Action Plan (March 2017) 6 Communities, Sport and Recreation | Department of Premier & Cabinet QUESTIONS Objective 1: Increase the level of recognition of carers. While rewarding, caring for others is a demanding and difficult role that has many challenges and often receives limited support. Carers deserve recognition for the work they do and the contribution they make to society. However, carers may not be easily identified and therefore may not be known to carer agencies and services, or receive support in their caring role. Children and young people who are carers can be at particular risk of not being recognised and treated as part of a caring relationship. Important steps to increasing the recognition of, and respect for, carers include:  Raising awareness and changing attitudes to be more supportive and inclusive of carers; and  Understanding the varying needs of carers. Tasmanian Government Departments distribute information in induction modules and on staff intranets and websites to inform employees with caring roles about their rights, flexible work options and organisations and services they may wish to access to support their needs, and to increase recognition of carers. Schools also provide this information for students.

Question One:  How do you think the Tasmanian Government can increase awareness and recognition of carers in the Tasmanian community?

Consultation Paper: Developing the Tasmanian Carer Action Plan (March 2017) Communities, Sport and Recreation | Department of Premier & Cabinet 7 Objective 2: Improve the level of support and services to carers. To care safely and maintain their own physical and mental health and wellbeing, carers need information, support, respect and recognition from the professionals with whom they are in contact. Carers need support to be able to manage their work and caring roles or to return to work if they have lost employment due to caring. Post-caring, carers may need support to rebuild a life of their own and reconnect with education, work or a social life. The Australian Government provides most carer-specific services, and all carer payments and allowances. However, the Tasmanian Government does interact with carers in a number of different ways. Some Tasmanian Government Departments, such as the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education provide supports and services specifically for carers. Other services that may be accessed frequently by carers for their own needs or those of the person for whom they care are:  Hospitals and specialist health services  Disability services  Mental health services  Schools  Police  Courts  Boards and tribunals, ie The Guardianship Board and The Mental Health Tribunal  LINCs  Service Tasmania

Question Two:  Thinking about your experiences with the services and systems listed above, how do you think the Tasmanian Government can make its services more accessible and responsive to carers’ needs?

Consultation Paper: Developing the Tasmanian Carer Action Plan (March 2017) 8 Communities, Sport and Recreation | Department of Premier & Cabinet Objective 3: Involve carers in the development and evaluation of policies, programs and services that affect them and their caring role. Decisions made in a service delivery context affect carers and often require their support and cooperation. The involvement of the carer can benefit the service provider, as carers have a unique insight and first- hand knowledge of the needs and requirements of the person receiving care; in turn, the person receiving care benefits from having a strong, trusting and well-informed care team. Processes for involving carers must recognise that caring relationships change over time and that some communities will have different approaches to communicating about options, participating in decision-making and determining who will be involved. The Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services consult directly with carers on key issues and policies that affect them. The Tasmanian Government funds Carers Tasmania to consult with and represent a diverse range of carers, in providing input to the Government’s development and implementation of policies, programs and services. Mental Health Carers Tasmania is also funded to provide support, information and referral information to family members and carers of people with mental illness. The Tasmanian Government will also establish a Carer Issues Reference Group, with representatives from Tasmanian and Australian Government Agencies, Carers Tasmania and Mental Health Carers Tasmania, to enable a more informed response to the significant state and national reforms that are impacting on carers and the people they care for.

Question Three:  How can the Tasmanian Government meaningfully involve carers in its decision making on policies, programs and services that affect them and the people they care for?

Consultation Paper: Developing the Tasmanian Carer Action Plan (March 2017) Communities, Sport and Recreation | Department of Premier & Cabinet 9 Communities, Sport and Recreation Department of Premier and Cabinet 15 Murray Street HOBART TAS 7000 Phone: 03 6232 7133 Email: [email protected] Visit: http://www.dpac.tas.gov.au/divisions/csr