Changes to Carer Payment eligibility announced The Federal Government has recently proposed changes to the eligibility thresholds of the Carer Payment system. These changes, to be formally announced in the budget, will allow carers to work or study more flexibly while still retaining their Carer Payment.
Under the new rules, carers will be able to work 100 hours over a four-week period, compared to the current limit of 25 hours per week. This change will also accommodate travel time, education, and volunteering activities, which will no longer be counted in the participation limit. This is expected to be particularly beneficial for carers in regional and remote areas who may need to travel further for work. The changes are set to commence next year subject to the passage of legislation.
You can read more about these proposed changes via Minister Rishworth’s media release here.
National Carer Strategy Advisory committee appointed The Minister for Social Services has appointed 16 members to the National Carer Strategy Advisory Committee from the carer community and sector representatives, including Carers Australia CEO Annabel Reid.
On 6 May 2024, the Committee held it’s first in person meeting at Parliament House in Canberra to discuss upcoming work for the development of the National Carer Strategy. The aim of the strategy is to deliver a national agenda to support Australia's carers and provide a framework for coordination of carer policy across Commonwealth portfolios including aged care, disability, veterans' affairs and mental health.
Further information on the Advisory Committee and its members can be found on the DSS website. You can subscribe to the National Carer Strategy newsletter by clicking this link to keep update on consultation opportunities (and keep an eye out in our upcoming newsletters too). Update on the unmet need for psychosocial supports analysis The Commonwealth Unmet Need Psychosocial Gap Analysis final report has extended its March deadline, with a new schedule for completion in May 2024. This analysis has been the subject of national and state-wide consultations from February to March 2024, with an interim report already reviewed by Senior Officials across the country.
The new May date will allow time to incorporate feedback and further data and analysis. The publication of the unmet need analysis findings will be a matter for all governments to consider when the analysis is completed. You can learn more about the project here. National Health Reform Agreement negotiations continue Health Ministers from all Australian governments, including state, territory and the Australian Government Minister for Health and Aged Care, met in April to discuss the National Health Reform Agreement and the need to support models of care outside hospitals including community settings. Ministers also discussed a range of mental health issues and agreed to hold a dedicated session with Mental Health Ministers.
The full Health Ministers Meeting Communique can be found here.
May Carer Collective - Making an age-friendly cityIn our May Carer Collective, Carers ACT will be seeking your ideas about what would make Canberra a great place to grow old.
The ACT Government’s Age-Friendly City Plan ends this year, and they are seeking community feedback until June 28th to create a new one. This is the perfect opportunity for us to tell the ACT Government how they can make Canberra a better place for carers who are aging and/or caring for older people.
Focus areas will include health and mental health, financial security, respect, housing, community participation and belonging.
For more information about Canberra’s age friendly city plan, visit: https://yoursayconversations.act.gov.au/agefriendlycityplan
Date: Monday, 20th May 2024 Time: 1:30pm - 3pm Location: MR2 Carers ACT 2/80 Beaurepaire Cres, Holt, ACT 2615
RSVPs close 11:30pm Thursday 16/05/2025
2024 ACT Mental Health Consumer SurveyThe ACT Mental Health Consumer Network (MHCN) is the peak body for mental health consumers in the ACT, aiming to improve mental health services in the ACT by using the lived experience of people with mental illness.
Every two years MHCN asks consumers to complete a survey to better understand the issues that consumers face. For this survey, a focus will be on the barriers to accessing ACT mental health services and where in the mental health system consumers are encountering them.
MHCN want to hear from mental health consumers who live and/or have used, or unsuccessfully tried to use, services or programs in the ACT in the past two years. The survey results will be included in an upcoming research report into the barriers to accessing mental health services in the ACT that MHCN is currently doing. Every mental health consumer who completes the survey will also receive a $20 Woolworths or Coles gift card.
The survey closes 5pm 12 May 2024. If you have used mental health services for yourself over the last 2 years in the ACT, you can fill out the survey here.
Are you an older person taking antidepressants, or caring for someone who is?
ACT Health Care Consumers Association (HCCA), in partnership with Sydney Health Literacy Lab, is researching how we can help older people who are prescribed antidepressants. Your experience and feedback will help the team create education and information to help you and people like you.
The study is are looking for: - older people prescribed an antidepressant currently, or in the past 12 months
- carers of older people prescribed an antidepressant currently, or in the past 12 months
- carers of older people in residential aged care facilities prescribed an antidepressant currently, or in the past 12 months
who are based in Australia over 18 years of age.
Interviews will be up to 45 minutes (online or over the phone) and involve discussions of your experience of being a carer for/an older person prescribed an antidepressant. Participants will receive a gift card as a thank you for their time.
More information can be found in the Participant Information Sheet or at https://www.hcca.org.au/project/qum/. To register, please fill out the form here or email tara.haynes@sydney.edu.au with any questions.
National Guidelines for including mental health and wellbeing in Early Childhood Health ChecksMental health concerns often begin during childhood. We also know that supporting children’s experiences, health, and development in the first 2,000 days of life is critical. The National Mental Health Commission is leading a project to develop National Guidelines for including mental health and wellbeing in Early Childhood Health Checks. These will support states and territories to include mental health and wellbeing in early childhood health checks (for children aged 0-5 years).
All states and territories include wellbeing milestones in their early childhood health checks. However, when and how wellbeing is explored varies. Introducing National Guidelines supports national consistency. The National Guidelines aim to help children early, and to allow families to get timely support and advice.
Over the past year, the Commission held an extensive consultation process, involving up to 600 people. Now they would like to hear your feedback on the draft National Guidelines. You can watch a video summary of the process here and go to the Have Your Say page to share your feedback by 2 June 2024.
Draft National Autism StrategyThe Australian Government, alongside the National Autism Strategy Oversight Council and its Working Groups, has developed the draft National Autism Strategy (the Strategy) The draft Strategy has been developed from evidence and what was heard from thousands of Autistic people, their families and carers, and other stakeholders. The draft Strategy is a high level, guiding document. It includes a vision, goal, guiding principles, outcome areas and commitments. The final Strategy will be a whole-of-life plan for all Autistic Australians.
While feedback received to date has attempted to be reflected the Australian Austism Alliance and National Autism Strategy Oversight Committee encourage you to provide your further feedback to help shape and refine the final Strategy due for release later in 2024.
Feedback is sought including if you think the draft Strategy covers everything it needs to and do you think it will be effective in improving life outcomes for Autistic Australians. You can give feedback via this survey until 3.00pm on Friday 31 May 2024.
Australian BPD Foundation Webinar - Support skills for parents, carers, partners and friendsPeople with lived experience of borderline personality disorder and related difficulties can struggle with painful emotions, identity, self-control and relationships. People who love or support them can also struggle with their own distress and in the relationship with the person they are supporting.
Australian BPD foundation is hosting a webinar with Dr. Alan Fruzzetti, who will highlight skills to help family members and carers relieve their own emotions and distress while also building healthy relationships with the person they care for. Skills include reducing emotional vulnerabilities, distress and dysregulation and increasing relationship mindfulness, validation, and self-validation.
When: Thursday, May 9th from 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Where: Online via Zoom Reserve your spot here
Free Public Webinar - Psychedelic Therapies in Australia: Achievements, Challenges and OpportunitiesJoin Mind Medicine Australia for a live webinar on Psychedelic Therapies in Australia. Explore the current legal landscape and hear from leading psychiatrists pioneering treatments. You'll also learn about Mind Medicine Australia's current focus including our Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies (CPAT) and Patient Support Fund.
In this webinar you'll discover the latest advancements in the field, explore the current legal landscape, and learn how you can play a pivotal role in shaping the future of mental healthcare. Presented by Dr Eli Kotler, Dr Michael Winlo, Tania de Jong AM, Peter Hunt AM and Scott Edwards and more speakers to be announced.
Date: 13 May 2024
Time: 6:55pm (AEST) for 7:00pm start, finishing at 8:15pm
Duration: 75 minutes (incl Q&A)
Location: Online – a link will be emailed to you with the viewing details
Click this link to register.
TheMHS Conference in Canberra 2024 - Early bird registration and volunteer opportunities open!The Mental Health Services (TheMHS) Conference is going to be held in Canberra this year. We are proud to be hosting the Carer Forum day and supporting TheMHS in organising the conference.
When: 27 - 30 August 2024 Where: National Convention Centre Canberra
If you would like to attend the forum and/or conference get your early bird tickets now before they close on the 31st of May!
Did you know that TheMHS provides student volunteer opportunities at our events? There are limited student volunteer opportunities available for TheMHS Conference 2024 - Canberra. This is an incredible opportunity for students to complete any course requirements and create valuable connections in the industry. Applications are also open now and close 31 May 2024.
For more information follow this link.
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