CARERS AND DISABILITY

CDP upholds the dignity of human life and the fact that every human life is precious and created in the image of our God and Maker.

People with disabilities are entitled to the same dignity and recognition as all other citizens and deserve special support from all levels of government and our Australian communities.

CDP will therefore work towards creating an Australian community that meaningfully and properly recognises the differences and needs of all citizens, regardless of their individual and family circumstances.

For too long, the support offered to disabled persons has largely been provided by their families and friends. Government assistance has been woefully inadequate.

Consequently, both carers and those receiving care require urgent and significant support in a number of areas.

Financial security

Caring responsibilities restrict a carer’s income earning capacity; in most cases the level of attention required by the disabled person prevents the carer from working full time or even prevents him from working altogether.

Furthermore, the carer incurs extra costs for the household (extra electricity, phone, transport costs, medications and special equipment.)

CDP will seek a review of the Carer Allowance and Carer Payment to ensure that carers are fully compensated for the extra costs incurred. This financial assistance should also be available to carers who do not live with the person they support provided they give substantial regular assistance to that person. CDP will introduce legislation to ensure that both the Allowance and the Payment are properly indexed on the actual cost of delivering disability services.

CDP believes that financial assistance is a responsibility of both State and Federal governments.

CDP supports the major recommendations of the 2007 Senate Report on Commonwealth State/Territory Disability Agreement (CSTDA) and in particular, CDP will work towards:

- substantial additional funding to address identified unmet needs for specialist disability services;

- a whole of government whole of life approach to services for people with disabilities;

- a partnership between governments, service providers and the disability community to set policy priorities and improve outcomes for people with a disability.

Workforce participation and security

The majority of carers who are of workforce age report great difficulties in balancing their caring responsibilities with workforce participation. Carers also face considerable barriers in re-entering the workforce after their caring responsibilities decrease or cease.

CDP will work towards securing more flexible workplace options, affordable, quality alternative care arrangements, such as adult day care aligned to working hours and improved transition to work programs for carers.

Carer support services

For caring to be sustainable in the long term, carers must have ready and affordable access to quality support services including flexible respite care, counselling, “hands on” skills development for their caring role, in-home services delivered on a regular basis by trained staff and residential care.

CDP will work toward the progressive achievement of all these objectives.

CDP will work towards securing an increase in the number and diversity of carer support services funded subsidised by Federal, State and Local Government.

It is particularly important that carers be given sufficient access to respite facilities on a regular basis to provide them with the adequate physical recreation required in their highly demanding and stressful roles.

CDP will therefore work towards the creation of sufficient numbers of respite outlets available in a wide range of locations so that carers may take a break from their duties when they need it rather than when the administration can fit them in.

Other initiatives

CDP will ensure closer coordination and cooperation between all levels of government to provide a national carer focus.

CDP will seek to introduce a carer superannuation scheme for recipients of the Carer Payment and the sole parent carer on Centrelink .

CDP will work towards securing increased funding for adequate counselling services to carers in need as well as preventative health services to carers.

CDP will seek better conditions of employment for carers so that a carer vocation can become an appealing career option for young people.

CDP will seek a review of group housing arrangements for young disabled persons.

It is not beneficial for young people to be accommodated in nursing homes with older residents. CDP will work to have special accommodation provided for disabled people below the age of 55 to minimise social alienation.