3. Service Mapping
This map details the services across Tasmanian Government agencies that currently support or assist carers.
It also highlights the primary role the Australian Government plays in supporting carers and providing funding for a range of supports, services and financial assistance to carers to help them to remain engaged in the community, participate in the workforce and stay healthy while continuing their caring role. In Tasmania, these services are accessed through the Carer Gateway delivered by Care2Serve (Carers Tasmania).
* For further information on the Tasmanian Government services and activities listed below, see Appendix A.
| Recognition | Access and Participation | Learning |
|---|
- Carers Tasmania funding (Communities Tasmania and DoH) – peak body funding to provide research, advocacy, representation, and policy advice in relation to carers.
- Mental Health Families and Friends Tasmania funding (DoH) – funding to provide support, education and systemic advocacy for families and friends.
- Carers Week activities (Communities Tasmania / all Agencies) to recognise carers
- Promotion of carer related supports (Communities Tasmania).
- Premier’s Disability Advisory Council (Communities Tasmania) to provide advice in relation to carer issues.
| - Tasmanian Home and Community Care (HACC) Program (DoH) to provide support for carers of eligible HACC clients.
- Peer and Carer workers – Statewide Mental Health Services (DoH) to engage with and support carers.
- Rethink Mental Health 2020 (DoH) aims to address carer needs, increase the capacity of consumers and carers and improve engagement with carers.
- Social Work Services (THS) to provide psychosocial support for carers.
- THS Consumer and Community Engagement Principles (THS) to ensure patient-centred care that is respectful of and responsive to patients, carers and consumers.
- Neighbourhood Houses (Communities Tasmania) including a partnership to provide Carer Gateway kiosks.
- State Service Diversity and Inclusion Policy and Framework (DPAC) to support employees who are carers.
- TSS Carers Toolkit to support employees who are carers (SSMO).
- Staff Wellbeing Framework to support employees who are carers (DoE).
- Informal Kinship Care Review to support informal kinship carers (Communities Tasmania).
- Companion Card to support participation for people with disability who need carer support (Communities Tasmania)
- Tasmania’s Elder Abuse Prevention Strategy 2019-22 to provide advice to carers.
| - Universal and targeted support for Tasmanian learners’ wellbeing, participation, engagement and learning needs (DoE) to provide assistance to learners with caring responsibilities.
- 2018–2021 Department of Education Child and Student Wellbeing Strategy: Safe, Well and Positive Learners (DoE) to support the wellbeing of learners with caring responsibilities.
- Annual Student Wellbeing Survey (DoE) to support the wellbeing of learners with caring responsibilities.
- Students who are Carers Policy and Procedure (TasTAFE) to support students who are carers.
- Adult Learning Strategy (State Growth) to support carers to engage or re-engage in learning.
- Training and Work Pathways Program (State Growth) providing targeted activities to address needs of target groups including carers.
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Australian Government Support for Carers
Australian Government Carer Gateway
The Australian Government’s Carer Gateway service providers (CGSPs) launched in April 2020.
CGSPs assist carers to access a range of services and supports delivered in person, by telephone and online including support planning, counselling, respite, targeted financial support through carer directed support packages, peer support groups, coaching and information and advice.
Care2Serve is the CGSP for Tasmania. Care2Serve has offices in Hobart, Launceston and Burnie. Care2Serve is a charity owned by Carers Tasmania.
Australian Government Carer Payments
The Australian Government, through Services Australia, provides eligible carers with financial assistance, including the Carer Payment and Carer Allowance. In Tasmania, Services Australia reported 16 843 carers received the Carer Allowance (income supplement) and 9 228 received the Carer Payment (income support) for the period 1 April to 30 June 2020. Of these recipients, 18 193 were female and 7 878 were male.
NDIS
Respite gives carers occasional short-term breaks from their caring responsibility. Carers can better manage their wellbeing when they can take a break with peace of mind. Participants of NDIS can use funds in their plan to provide respite for their carers.
Disability Gateway
The Australian Government is trialling a Disability Gateway to serve as a single point of information for people with disability and their carers.
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs provides specific supports for carers of someone who has served in the Australian Defence Force.
