A TOOLKIT: How Carers in Victoria Can Advocate for Change

A TOOLKIT: How carers in Victoria can advocate for change

www.caringfairly.org.au Caring Fairly is represented in VIC by: www.facebook.com/caringfairlycampaign @caringfairly @caringfairly WHO WE ARE Caring Fairly is a national campaign led by unpaid carers and specialist organisations that support and advocate for their rights. Launched in August 2018 and coordinated by Mind Australia, Caring Fairly is led by a coalition of over 25 carer support organisations, NGOs, peak bodies, and carers themselves. In Victoria, Caring Fairly is represented by Carers Victoria, and Tandem Inc. We need your support, and invite you to join the Caring Fairly coalition.

Caring Fairly wants: • A fairer deal for Australia’s unpaid carers • Better economic outcomes for people who devote their time to supporting and caring for their loved ones • Government policies that help unpaid carers balance paid work and care, wherever possible • Politicians to understand what’s at stake for unpaid carers going into the 2019 federal election

To achieve this, we need your help.

WHY WE ARE TAKING ACTION Unpaid carers are often hidden from view in Australian politics. There are almost 2.7 million unpaid carers nationally. Over 850,000 people in Australia are the primary carer to a loved one with disability. Many carers, understandly, don’t identify as a ‘carer’.

Caring Fairly wants visibility for Australia’s unpaid carers. We are helping to build a new social movement in Australia to achieve this.

Unpaid carers prop up Australian society. Like all Australians, unpaid carers have a right to a fair and decent quality of life.

Caring Fairly is advocating for vital reforms needed to bring fairness to the hidden world of unpaid care in Australia. We need your support.

With your support, we can shape a new public conversation about the value we attach to unpaid carers in Australia, and advocate for the changes urgently needed by so many Australian families.

We can only do this together.

Join the movement, shape the conversation, and lend your support to the Caring Fairly campaign and coalition at:

www.caringfairly.org.au/takeaction @caringfairly

www.facebook.com/caringfairlycampaign @caringfairly

WHAT’S UNFAIR? THE KEY ISSUES

There are 2.7 million unpaid carers in Australia, and over 850,000 primary carers.

Unpaid carers aren’t able to go on strike, but if they did, the Australian Government would have to spend over $1 billion per week on formal health and social care services.

Australia’s reliance on unpaid carers is unsustainable and unfair. Over two thirds of primary carers are women.

Many carers aren’t able to get paid work on an equal footing to other Australians. Many older carers retire with limited savings.

Young carers get a raw deal. Many children and young people who provide care to a loved one have poorer educational outcomes and fewer employment and training opportunities than other Australians. WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE? THE KEY MESSAGES Caring Fairly believes the Australian Federal Government must take urgent action to bring fairness to care. It must look beyond short term policies, and invest in long term solutions. It must drive a cultural change in how we as Australians, value the unpaid carers in all our communities. Ahead of the 2019 federal election, our three key messages are: 1 Government must invest in the long-term economic security of unpaid carers

2 Government must make it easier for unpaid carers to balance work and care, on an equal footing with other Australians 3 Government must make sure that all young carers can be identified and assisted

These three key messages are drawn from Caring Fairly’s 2019 policy platform. To read the full document, and our evidence base, visit www.caringfairly.org.au. TAKE ACTION GIVING VICTORIAN CARERS A VOICE IN THE 2019 FEDERAL ELECTION

Within the next few weeks, Australians will go to the ballot box to elect a new federal government. Caring Fairly wants unpaid carers to shape the outcome of this election. We want to use our collective voice to achieve a fairer deal for carers, and a fairer society for all Australians.

It is essential that federal politicians hear from you to understand exactly what’s at stake in this election - in Victoria, and for you, your family, and your community. Here are some ideas about how you can use your voice.

Pressure your local senator to take action Meeting with Victoria’s federal senators is a great way to influence the people who represent you at the highest levels of government. Senators hold substantial power within their respective political parties. Senators serve six-year terms in Parliament, making them the perfect driver for the long term policy changes we are seeking.

Victoria has twelve senators. You don’t have to meet with all of them, but you can ask for meetings with each, or with one senator from each of the major parties, or any senator that you’d particularly like to speak to - the choice is yours.

As a constituent you are entitled to request a meeting with your Senators on any issue of importance to you. Here are some tips to make the process as easy as possible: • You can request a meeting by calling or emailing the Senators from your state. You can also use the letter template attached in this pack for some ideas on what to say • Expect to wait a few weeks before the meeting occurs • Plan what you’d like the Senator to know about your experience or situation and why you are passionate about changing things • Have a clear idea of what you’d like to ask them to do on your behalf - you can refer to the Caring Fairly key messages for some ideas • You can encourage your friends and family to sign the Caring Fairly petition in this kit and present this to your senator to show the widespread community support for change. • You can request a follow up meeting for a few months time to discuss and track progress on the issue • The more voices your senators hear from on this issue, the harder it beomes to ignore our voice, and our demands for change

Your VICTORIAN senators Senator Kim Carr Senator Kimberley Kitching Australian Labor Party Australian Labor Party (03) 9639 2798 (03) 9374 1640 [email protected] [email protected] @SenKimCarr @kimbakit Senator Raff Ciccone Senator Gavin Marshall Australian Labor Party Australian Labor Party (03) 9890 7022 (03) 9348 9699 [email protected] [email protected] Senator Richard Di Natale Senator Bridget McKenzie Australian Greens National Party (03) 9654 0430 (02) 6024 2560 [email protected] [email protected] @RichardDiNatale @senbmckenzie Senator Mitch Fifield Senator James Paterson Liberal Party Liberal Party (03) 9584 2455 (02) 9690 2201 [email protected] [email protected] @SenatorFifield @senpaterson Senator Derryn Hinch Senator Janet Rice Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party Australian Greens (03) 9820 2222 (03) 9381 1446 [email protected] [email protected] @humanheadline @janet_rice Senator Jane Hume Senator Scott Ryan Liberal Party Liberal Party (03) 9428 1773 (03) 9326 1088 [email protected] @SenatorHume [email protected] @SenatorRyan WHAT’S AT STAKE THIS ELECTION IN YOUR STATE? Every election is often decided by a few marginal seats in each state. If you live in one of the following federal seats, it is worth contacting your local MP and candidates as well as your senator. If you are not sure which federal electorate you live in you can check at www.aec.gov.au. Do you live in one of the following?

Chisholm Bruce Melbourne La trobe Macnamara Dunkley Wills Corrangamite Jagajaga Bendigo

If you live in one of the following: Check out the Marginal Seats Guide at the end of this toolkit to discover a bit about the candidates in your local electorate and how to contact them.

Engage with your local supports Whether it’s an online support group or one you might attend in person - let your support networks know about this campaign and why you support it yourself. You can share our posters, petitions or social media graphics with the group but don’t forget to explain your personal perspective as a supporter of the campaign.

Not sure what supports are available in your local area? Head over to www.caringfairly.org.au/takeaction and fill out the contact us form. We can give you some information on what supports are available through our affiliated support organisations. You can also visit our VIC partners’ websites directly: • Carers Victoria - www.carersvictoria.org.au/ • Tandem - www.tandemcarers.org.au/ Host an event One of the best ways of spreading our message is through face-to-face conversations in a social setting. Hosting an event is also a really helpful way of engaging with other carers. The following ideas could be used to bring people in your community together to discuss this important issue. • A carers morning tea, hosted at your own home or at a community venue. This can be as informal or formal as you would like • Offer to run a social event as part of a carers support group or community group • Organise some friends to go with you to your local shopping strip and ask people to sign the Caring Fairly petition • Hold a carers craft afternoon • Anything that incorporates fun and social activities with activities to provide information about the Caring Fairly campaign Get creative There are creative ways to tell your story, and to be a voice for change. You might want to: • Write a poem; • Paint or draw; • Write a blog post; • Engage with your local community radio station; • Develop an outdoor display or mural; • Anything else you can think of that engages your artistic skills and expression.

Once your project is complete, be sure to share it with us online, through our website or the other links below. You can also tag us in anything you post on social media if you are posting it to your personal page. www.caringfairly.org.au @caringfairly www.facebook.com/caringfairlycampaign @caringfairly Use the petition

The Caring Fairly petition can be found at the back of this toolkit. It is a simple and effective tool to start conversations about this important topic, and to demonstrate to politicians the collective power of unpaid carers in this election. You can ask your friends, family, neighbours and online community to sign to encourage government to prioritise carers at this election. You might want to keep a copy on your kitchen bench or deliver a copy of the petition to the letterboxes in your street. Most people will be happy to support the cause but they do need to be asked to do so.

Please let the Caring Fairly team know if you are using the petition, so that we can help you maximise your local and national impact. Send any completed copies of the petition to [email protected] and let us know how we can support you. : Advocate online

Modern elections: are fought online as much as offline. Using your social media presence to share your story, voice your demands, and amplify the messages of the Caring Fairly campaign are important ways to get the attention of politicians, and advocate for change. There are creative ways to tell your story, and to be a voice for change. You might want to: • Write a poem; • Follow and engage with Caring Fairly’s social media channels • Paint or draw; • Share Caring Fairly graphics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can find these at caringfairly.org.au • Write a blog post; • Use Caring Fairly frames on your profile picture on Facebook. You can find these at caringfairly.org.au • Engage with your local community radio station; • Share part of your story online, and set out the reforms you want to see from politicians in this election (more on this • Develop an outdoor display or mural; in the next section) • Anything else you can think of that engages your artistic skills and expression. • Create a 30 second online video (see below) • Engage in online support groups where appropriate and let people know about the Caring Fairly campaign and how Once your project is complete, be sure to share it with us online, through our website or the other links below. they can get involved You can also tag us in anything you post on social media if you are posting it to your personal page. • Engage with politicians and political parties online to raise awareness of the campaign • Engage in respectful conversations on Twitter and Facebook about your experience

When publishing your story - be sure to tag Caring Fairly on social media so we can help spread the word. You can use the links below to share.

www.caringfairly.org.au @caringfairly www.facebook.com/caringfairly @caringfairly

Not sure how or what to share online? Head over to www.caringfairly.org.au/takeaction and fill out the contact us form. Someone from the campaign will be in touch to give you some advice about how to share your story online. Share your story online Sharing your experiences is one of your most powerful advocacy tools. It is one of the best ways to build a sense of connection and a way to captivate, and compel people to action.

Writing down your own experiences as a carer can be confronting, emotional, and traumatic. It is important to reflect on your own boundaries around what you are comfortable sharing with other people; be they your family, friends, neighbours, local community or your online environment. Tips to try in your storytelling: Always keep in mind what the purpose of your story is. What message are you trying to convey? Why do you want people to hear about it? This will help guide the shape of your story and give an idea of where the particular points of focus should be.

Don’t worry about figures, data or metrics to include in your story. The value of your story is in your experience and the perspective you have as a result.

You don’t need to disclose every personal detail. Sharing your story gives you power over how much you disclose and to whom. You can choose to highlight particular aspects of your story depending on your comfort levels and your audience.

Allow yourself some vulnerability. This gives your audience something to relate to emotionally.

Make sure your story includes characters. Although you won’t want to disclose everything about them, don’t gloss over the participants in the story and their point of view.

There is political power in voicing common experiences. Most people will find it very easy to understand issues as they relate to family, or friendships, or suffering, as they are universal human experiences. Use this to your advantage and focus on the most universal aspects of your story.

Finish with a call to action. What do you want people to do now that they’ve heard your story? What action do you want to inspire from them? Crucially, what do you want your elected representatives to do? If you share our vision of ‘what needs to change’, we ask you to use our ‘key messages’, found earlier in this toolkit.

Need help crafting your story or not sure how best to take action? Head over to www.caringfairly.org.au/takeaction and fill out the contact us form. Someone from the campaign will be in touch to give you some advice about how you can be involved! Create a 30 second video Filming a short video on your phone is a great and easy way of sharing your story, adding a human face to this important issue and getting public attention.

Caring Fairly can help make it even easier for you.

Examples of short videos from campaign supporters can be found on our facebook page at facebook.com/caringfairlycampaign

Caring Fairly would love to hear your stories via video and help you reach a wide online audience. We can edit, brand, and ‘polish’ your videos, if you want us to. When you tag Caring Fairly on Facebook or Twitter with your 30 second video, we will help you share and promote your video.

We are collecting the stories of carers to help raise public awareness of the campaign and make sure a wide variety of voices are heard. We are asking Caring Fairly supporters from Victoria to record a 30 second video of themselves and submit the footage via our Facebook inbox or email: [email protected]. Make sure you tag us if you upload your video on social media as well.

Makre sure you tag us if you upload your video on social media as well!

www.caringfairly.org.au @caringfairly www.facebook.com/caringfairlycampaign @caringfairly VICTORIA MARGINAL SEAT GUIDE: THE TOP 10

Caring Fairly is non-partisan and apolitical. We want to see improved government responses, policies, and committments from all parties, politicians, and candidates. This information is accurate at the time of publishing and is subject to change. To stay up to date with election developments follow /CaringFairlyCampaign on Facebook.

Chisholm

ALP Candidate: Ms Jennifer Yang Ms Jennifer Yang has a background in IT, Earth Science, and business and wishes to use her skills to create a more sustainable future for Australia. Ms Yang believes that one way to do that is to ensure high-quality Medicare coverage. Before stepping down to become the candidate for Chisholm, she served as a Local Government Councillor and as the Mayor of Manningham. In October, Ms Yang expressed her support for a youth mental health service for Monash in a Facebook post. She said: “Monash is home to 40,000 people aged between 10-24 years old and has no dedicated youth mental health service. It can take a young person in Monash on average 63 minutes travel to access a headspace centre, a huge obstacle in seeking help. It’s time we listen to what our youth are telling us; it’s time we act, it’s time for a headspace in Monash!” Email: [email protected] Phone: (03) 9448 2328

Liberal Candidate: Ms Gladys Liu Ms Gladys Lui completed a Bachelor of Applied Science from La Trobe University and worked as a speech pathologist in the state Depart- ment of Education. She later ran her own speech pathology practice. Ms Liu would also become the Liberal candidate member in 2003, and a Legislative Council Candidate in 2006, 2010, and 2014. From 2007 Ms Liu served as the Multicultural Adviser to the Leader of the Oppo- sition Ted Baillieu through to his election and departure as Premier of Victoria. She also served under the current Premier Denis Napthine. In January 2019, Liu shared a post from Prime Minister, Scott Morrison on Facebook which praised Morrison for running a strong economy which helps provide significant services, including healthcare. The post said: “It’s because that’s what provides for the services that you rely on Medicare, hospitals, schools, funding all at record levels. These services are very precious to Australians, that is why we guarantee them.” Email: [email protected] Phone: 0402 823 283

Greens Candidate: Luke Arthur Luke Arthur has worked in fire services across Australia for the last decade. Luke has said that “We have a plan to provide access to high-quality, free healthcare and education. We know that affordable housing and a strong social safety net that looks after us when we are out of work, as we age or if we have a disability is essential to ensure all of us have the basics we need to live a good life”. Email: [email protected] Phone: (03) 9912 2992 Macnamara

ALP Candidate: Mr Josh Burns Mr Josh Burns graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Political studies. After graduating, he worked as a teachers aide and factory hand and is currently a Senior Advisor to the Premier of Victoria, Daniel Andrews. Mr Burns values education and healthcare. In a 2018 Facebook post, Mr Burns recognised the importance of mental health support to overcome the damage done to children held in detention centres. He said: “No one should play politics with the health of children. Give these kids the medical care they need. Give them the mental health support to overcome the damage already done. And, get them out of detention.” Email: [email protected] Phone: 0458 205 218

Liberal Candidate: Ms Kate Ashmor Ms Kate Ashmor is a small business operator, lawyer, community volunteer, public policy commentator, and mother. She graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Arts/Law and has been a practicing lawyer for 13 years. Ms Ashmor has chaired the board of Caulfield Park Bendigo Bank since 2013, was the former President of Australian Women Lawyers, and served as a councillor for the City of Glen Eira. In December of 2018, Ms Ashmor retweeted the Breakthrough Foundation’s Tweet dedicated to Mental Health in Australia. The Tweet read: “Mission Australia recently released its annual survey of young people. Alarmingly, 43 per cent of young people identified Mental Health as the top issue – up from 21 per cent in the past 3 years. We are committed to improving mental health in young people and the wider community.” Email: [email protected] Phone: 0403 334 245

Greens Candidate: Ms Steph Hodgins-May Ms Steph Hodgins-May is a former planning and environmental lawyer, who also worked as an advisor to the Australian Mission to the United Nations and as a volunteer lawyer at Environmental Justice Australia. Ms Hodgins-May describes herself as a dedicated environmental and social justice advocate, small business owner and St Kilda local. She says “I’m seeking to represent the Greens in Macnamara to promote clean energy, safer pathways for refugees, greater investment in public services, and to improve the lives of our residents by addressing issues like housing affordability”. Email: [email protected] Dunkley

Liberal Candidate: Mr Chris Crewther MP Mr Chris Crewther has been the Federal Member for Dunkley since 2016. Currently, he chairs the Foreign Affairs and Aid Sub-Committee which adopted the Modern Slavery Act in Australia. Before politics, Chris ran a small business in agricultural exports/trade and was the director of several non-profits. Mr Crewther received two Masters degrees from ANU, a Masters of Diplomacy with Distinction, and a Masters of Laws specialising in International Law- he was also an International Lawyer for the United Nations. In a 2018 speech made during R U OK day, Mr Crewther made the following comments: “Mental health is one of the key pillars in the Australian government’s long-term national health plan. The $338 million mental health package announced in this year’s budget reinforces our commitment to assist those in our community who are living with mental illness.” Email: [email protected] Phone: Parliament office (02) 6277 4710 / Electorate office (03) 9781 2333

ALP Candidate: Ms Peta Murphy Ms Peta Murphy formerly worked in the legal profession, serving on the Board of Peninsula Health. Ms Murphy believes in supporting charities, sports clubs, the right to secure work, access to a good education, and access to quality healthcare. In January 2019, Ms Murphy posted to her Facebook an announcement about Labor’s plans to increase funding for mental health. She said: “I’m very proud to have worked with Monash University Dean of Medicine Christina Mitchell and Peninsula Health CEO Felicity Topp on the Health Futures Hub Project - and to announce today that an elected Labor government will fund it. The Hub will focus on improving outcomes in aged care, mental health and addiction – pressing issues both in the local area and across the nation. Only Labor has committed to funding this project - because we know how important health and education are for our community. If elected this year, Labor will invest $21million in the Monash-Peninsula Health Futures Hub. Labor’s investment will support the establishment of new research centres and a Health Data Platform at in the Frankston Health and Education Precinct. It will also see the expansion of the Academic Centre at Frankston Hospital, creating construction jobs and boosting the local economy. This is about the future of our region, and I am so excited to be part of it.” Email: [email protected] Phone: 0468 778 143

Greens: Ms Emily Green Ms Green is a recent VCE graduate who is passionate about Dunkley, having lived in the area her whole life. She believes that “Dunkley needs more social services, mental health facilities and support networks to help solve the war on drugs.”. Emily is also a devoted volunteer, having “helped around the Frankston area for many years, including feeding the homeless”. Email: [email protected] La Trobe

Liberal Candidate: Mr Jason Wood MP Mr Jason Wood was first elected to represent La Trobe in 2004, and has contested in and won every Federal Election for La Trobe since. Currently Mr Wood serves as the Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Migration. In 2014, Mr Wood spoke to the parliament about the importance of addressing suicide prevention and youth mental health. He said: “I recognise the impacts that depression, anxiety and suicide have on our community. We as a group should all promote the need for people to seek help when there are signs of problems, and we should try to minimise the social stigmas on mental health whenever they occur.” Email: [email protected] Phone: Parliament office (02) 6277 4982 / Electorate office (03) 9768 9164

ALP Candidate: Mr Simon Curtis Mr Simon Curtis is a local teacher and education advocate. He has also worked a Councillor in the City of Casy and is a supporter of mental health causes. In January 2019, Curtis posted to Facebook about an event to support mental health initiatives in the La Trobe community. He wrote: “What a great initiative by Hannah, Jesse and everyone involved with the Mornington Peninsula Speak Up For Change Campaign today in Frankston, to break stigmas and to make a stand to tackle bullying and mental health issues. It was a privilege to be involved.” Mr Curtis has posted to his social media to support the Labor party’s plans for the health care system, posting, “Australians never voted for Scott Morrison or his $700 million cut from our public hospitals, but he did it anyway. Here’s how Labor will fix our hospitals.” With this, he promotes Labor’s plans to invest in beds, doctors and nurses, end the Medicare freeze and fund new MRI machines throughout Australia. Email: [email protected] Phone: 0400 174 155

Greens Candidate: Ms Amy Gregorovich Ms Gregorovich is currently studying environmental science and human geography at Monash University and works at Casey-Cardinia libraries. She also volunteer for multiple community advocacy groups. Email: [email protected] Phone: 9912 2992

Corrangamite

Liberal Candidate: Hon Sarah Henderson MP The Hon Sarah Henderson was first elected to represent the seat of Corangamite in 2013 and was re-elected in 2016. She is currently the Assistant Minister for Social Services, Housing and Disability Services. Before politics, Ms Henderson worked as a reporter and a Network Business Manager of Network 10. In May of 2018, Ms Henderson released a media statement promoting increased funding going towards mental health nurses in Coran- gamite. She said: “This funding is to support the transition to new approaches of providing mental health services. Mental health services are not a one-size-fits-all proposition, and mental health nurses play an important role in assisting in individualised stepped-care and recovery approaches.” Email: [email protected] Phone: Parliament office (02) 6277 4172 / Electorate office (03) 5243 1444

ALP Candidate: Ms Libby Coker Ms Libby Coker is a former teacher and journalist. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New England, a Bachelor of Letters from Deakin, and a Diploma of Education from Monash. Ms Coker has been a Surf Coast Shire Councillor for more than a decade and has served as Mayor twice in that time. Ms Coker’s values of hard work and community commitment were instilled at an early age by her mother, a nurse in a public hospital, which taught her the significance of serving the community and the value in caring for others. In a May 2018 social media post, Ms Coker promoted Labor’s $2.8 billion Better Hospitals fund. She said: “Hospitals in Corangamite will be able to share in Labor’s $2.8 billion Better Hospitals Fund that will deliver more beds in emergency departments and wards, more doctors, more nurses, and more health staff”. Email: [email protected] Phone: 0422 786 425 Greens Candidate: Mr Simon Northeast Mr Northeast is a lawyer who lives on the Great Ocean Road. His legal career has primarily focused on social justice, Children’s Court and refugee and criminal law. This has included over 14 years volunteering at community legal centres culminating in being a case work advocate at Fitzroy Legal Service. Email: [email protected] Phone: 9912 2992

Bendigo

ALP Candidate: Ms Lisa Chesters MP Ms Lisa Chesters was first elected to represent Bendigo in 2013 and was re-elected in 2016 - she was the first woman to be elected as the Federal Member. Ms Chesters currently serves as the Shadow Assistant Minister for Workplace Relations, and the Shadow Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Australia. Before politics, Ms Chesters worked as the Lead Organiser for United voice until 2013. Ms Chesters values education reform, health, community equality and inclusion. In a 2014, Ms Chesters announced her “Walk A Day in Someone Else’s Shoes” initiative, which was started to find out first hand how people in her electorate operate. She started with mental health services, including Mind. She said: “A Day in Your Shoes is a way for me to get out in the community and find out exactly what support central Victorian organisations need. I will be visiting places such as Mind, who do an incredible amount of work in our community.” Email: [email protected] Phone: Parliament office (02) 6277 4657 / Electorate office (03) 5443 9055

Liberal Candidate: Mr Sam Gayed Mr Gayed is a chartered engineer and a businessman having managed major telecommunications projects in more than five countries and having held senior positions with multinational companies. He has also started a business in the health industry together with his wife who is a doctor in mental health. Sam has lived in Bendigo with his family since 2013 and is passionate about delivering essentials across health and education. Email: [email protected]

Greens Candidate: Mr Robert Holian . Mr Holian is a local doctor in Bendigo, having worked at Bendigo Health as a junior doctor, but also in Kyneton and Bendigo in general practice. Mr Holian believes “it is vitally important that we continue to invest and improve our health system, expand government-funded dental care, and properly resource our mental health system”. Email: [email protected]

Bruce

ALP Candidate: Mr Julian Hill MP Mr Julian Hill was elected to the House of Representatives for Bruce in 2016. Mr Hill is committed to his party’s mission to make quality health care affordable again by ending the Medicare freeze, capping private health insurance premiums and investing in public hospitals. Mr Hill has spoken out about the aged care crisis, stating: “The government’s own website states that our most vulnerable Australians will be waiting more than one year for a package. This uncertainty makes it impossible for distressed families to even plan for the care of senior Australians while they wait, and wait.” On the issue of health carers, he advocated on behalf of a couple who had their Centrelink payments suspended and decreased after a casual phone call which turned out to be a formal assessment. He said, “Sneaky phone calls to stroke victims and their carers to ‘check some details’ then kick them off a payment in the same call without a proper assessment is grossly unfair.“ Email: [email protected] Phone: Parliament office (02) 6277 2174 / Electorate office (03) 9547 1444 Liberals: At the time of publishing there was no annouced Liberal candidate for this seat. Greens: At the time of publishing there was no annouced Greens candidate for this seat. Jagajaga

ALP candidate: Ms Kate Thwaites Ms Kate Thwaites is a former ABC TV and radio news reporter and has held senior roles at Oxfam. Ms Thwaites worked for former ALP member for Jagajaga Jenny Macklin MP on such issues as the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and Paid Parental Leave. Ms Thwaites believes in supporting those vulnerable in the community. In a 2019 social media post, Ms Thwaites outlined the importance of investing in health, saying: “We love our nurses. Labor plans to invest in our public hospitals and reverse Liberal cuts. Scott Morrison’s $715M cut to public hospitals - including over $11M from Austin Health and over $6M from the Mercy - will mean less nurses, doctors and longer wait times.” Email: [email protected]

Liberal Candidate : Mr Richard Welch Mr Welch lives in Ivanhoe East with his wife Mandy whom he married at Montsalvat in 2001, and two children Molly and Donald. Born in South Gippsland, Richard has worked in Ivanhoe and Heidelberg for the Commonwealth Bank. Richard completed a Masters of Business Administration at Imperial College, University of London, followed by a Certificate of Business, International Relations and the Political Economy at the London School of Economics. Since then, Richard founded and directed a company that developed motion tracking technology which is now used by 36 countries around the world. Email: [email protected]

Greens Candidate: Mr Paul Kennedy Mr Kennedy is a management consultant, with an MBA and degrees in mathematics and history of science. He is concerned about inequality and states on his website, “over my lifetime, Australia has become less equal. Employment has become precarious, wage growth has stagnated for all but the wealthy, and corporate taxes do not reflect the benefits and privilege of operating in Australia. Our national treatment of vulnerable people is deplorable, whether it is our fellow citizens, asylum seekers, or people in other lands, contradicting our identity of generosity and fairness”. Email: [email protected] Phone: 9912 2992

Wills

ALP Candidate: Mr Peter Khalil MP Mr Peter Khalil was elected as the member for Wills at the 2016 federal election. In his maiden speech, he said, “I have chosen to serve to change people’s lives, to channel their hopes and dreams, because I believe that Labor values make a difference. I believe in equality of opportunity, access to education, affordable health care and social justice.” Speaking specifically on the Royal Commission into Aged Care, Mr Kahlil said: “I support their campaign around funding, as to increase the ratios in the system and the staffing issues generally. Fixing these issues will undoubtedly improve quality of care for some of the most vulnerable members of our society and concurrently improve the conditions of some of our least appreciated workers. The royal commission can’t be an excuse for inaction by this government.” Email: [email protected] Phone: Parliament office (02) 6277 4857 / Electorate office (03) 9350 5777 Liberals: At the time of publishing there was no annouced Liberal candidate for this seat.

Greens Candidate: Mr Adam Pulford Mr Pulford is a Brunswick resident and a social justice and gay rights campaigner. He recently left the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission to run for the Greens in Wills. Email: [email protected]

Melbourne

Greens Candidate: Mr Adam Bandt Mr Adam Bandt is the acting co-deputy leader of the Greens. He was first elected to the house of representatives to represent Melbourne in the 2010 Federal election and was re-elected in 2013, and 2016. Before parliament, Mr Bandt worked as a public interest lawyer. In a 2011 media release, Mr Bandt promoted the efforts of research scientists to stop funding cuts to medical research. He said: “This is a big win for the community campaign led by medical research scientists from my electorate of Melbourne which has one of the highest concentrations of health and medical research facilities the country. I am glad the government listened to reason and saw the worth of medical research to Australia’s health and economy.” Mr Bandt has also criticised recently the government’s decision to re-open Christmas Island, regularly posting on his social media about the lack of health and mental health services there as well as the worsening mental health crisis on Manus island. Email: [email protected] Phone: (03) 9417 0759

ALP Candidate: Mr Luke Creasy Mr Luke Creasey is a high school teacher and community activist. Through this work Mr Creasey developed an understanding of how important mental health is to students and believes in offering more mental health services. In an October 2018 post to his official political Facebook page, Mr Creasey supported more mental health services. He said, “As a teacher, I know that one of the biggest issues in education today is a need for more wraparound services to manage mental health, among other things in schools. I spent my time as a Year Level Coordinator working with some really vulnerable students who suffered complex mental health issues. Teachers are broadly wonderful, empathetic human beings, but we just don’t have the expertise to be working with young people to manage mental health crises alone.” Email: [email protected]

Liberals: At the time of publishing there was no annouced Liberal candidate for this seat. Help bring fairness to unpaid care Sign to show your support for great fairness and recognition for carers.