Caring Works Forum
The Office of Industrial Relations held its Caring Works Forum on 23rd October during Carers Week. At the forum a DVD and a focus group report were launched providing insight into the lives of those who balance caring and working responsibilities.
In addition, a new webpage was made available providing further resources for employers and workers.
A discussion panel of five addressed the issue of how we can support mature aged workers with caring responsibilities to successfully participate in the work force. The panel members were:
- Bettina Cass, University of NSW
- Isaac Smith, Working Carers Gateway
- Belinda Tkalcevic, Australian Council of Trade Unions
- Mark Goodsell, Australian Industry Group
- Elena Katrakis, Carers NSW
This discussion board aims to continue the dialogue that began at the forum and to provide others with a chance to share comments and experiences.
The Question and Answer session at the forum has given rise to a number of discussion catergories - see left hand column. We welcome comments on these categories. If you feel there is a category missing, please let us know so we can add it to the discussion.
November 3rd, 2008 at 5:11 pm
What can employers, employees, and the government bodies do to help make arrangements for care of the person being cared for so employees can continue to work? If there were more opportunities for substitute care there would be more carers remaining in the workforce. Perhaps respite packages currently available through different services can be converted so that carers are more able to access employment. Perhaps employers can become creative with government assistance to provide substitute or alternate care for workers to free them to be available to work.
November 12th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
I am the CEO of an organisation that is funded to provide flexible respite packages particulalry to carers who are either balancing work and carer roles or wish to return to the workforce while still caring for a loved one. We cover the Northern Sydney area from the harbour to the Hawkesbury to Ryde. We currently receive a small grant from the Australian Department of Health and Ageing and provide respite tailored to meet the carers’ needs. We have been operating this service for the past 2 years and have a continous waiting list! I will shortly be requesting additional funds to expand the service and I know that there are a number of similar services around NSW and Australia. Perhaps the OIR could collate and publish a list of such services via this and other sites? in the meantime I would encourage people to contact their Carelink Centre 1800 052 222 to get details of a service near them. I hope this has helped.
November 19th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
thanls..
December 2nd, 2008 at 6:05 pm
South Western Sydney working carers are always struggling to receive respite. The demand far outweighs the supply. Many of the respite centres’ waiting lists are closed because of the demand. Others do not have enough employees or staff to provide respite, let alone respite for particular needs such as working. Some centres try to cover needs of some families as best as possible over the school holidays, but sometimes carers cannot even access that. After school care for children with high support needs is also a problem.
I was a respite coordinator in the South West of Sydney for five years, and I am now a case worker for families. I am very familiar with all respite services in the region,especially the Carelink Centre. I do know that there is one service working with the government at present to set up an after school care service next year, but at this stage there is no available information about when this service will commence.
There are also no specific packages that will cater for the needs of any working carers who care for those older than school age in the South West of Sydney. Those of us who live in the South West of Sydney cannot access any services that are operating specifically for working carers, while those living in other areas obviously can access such services abeit from small grants. Perhaps the government can look at these needs in the south west of Sydney so that respite centres in the area can obtain funding to meet these needs. These are desperate times; it makes sense to help keep working carers in the workforce. I believe this will help.
December 3rd, 2008 at 9:15 am
I work as a Community Develelopment officer at MDS and I convene the Macarthur Disability Network. Respite availability and flexibility has been identified as a key issue for carers wishing to enter or stay in the workforce and for carers in general. The issue of lengthy waiting lists for respite is a reflection that demand far out strips the supply of respite service. Government (both State and Federal) must address this issue first and formost if we are serious about getting relief for carers on waiting list or unable to got onto one as well as for working cares.
Furthermore, childcare for children with special needs is something that needs attention, I see many parents who have had applications rejected by childcare centres as they are unable to meed special needs. This immediately means that the parent/s will not be able to work. It is time to start establishing childcare centres for children with special needs, with trained staff both on disability awarenss and working with children with a disability.
Perhaps the new Carers Info, Referral and Advocacy funding by DADHAC will better identify and highlight, as well as take action on these key issues for cares during 2009.
December 3rd, 2008 at 9:16 am
I think the issue of caring is a complex one. For those who want to care, but are compelled to work to survive financially, it becomes a hideous balancing act, ultimately impacting on the health of the carer. I have been in the workforce for 20 years, and choose to work part time, as i have children and two frail aged parents. The industrial system is forcing me to go into full time work. I cannot pursue my career as a part time employee, not even in the public sector. If we are going to be serious about accommodating the needs of carers (regardless of age) then employers need to consider offering work on a permanent/ part time basis, or having people job share. This should include people who have reached a higher earning capacity. Part time work opportunities should not be just at the lower end of the pay scales.
December 6th, 2008 at 7:16 am
Thanks you
December 15th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
thanks for site..