House of Representatives Committees

| House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family, Community, Housing and Youth

Note: This page contains links to PDF files. For more information, see the web page on Accessing files.

Who Cares ...? Report on the inquiry into better support for carers

25 May 2009

View the report as a single document - (PDF 3655KB)

View the report as separate downloadable parts:



Preliminary Pages	(PDF 145KB)
Foreword Membership of the Committee Committee Secretariat Terms of reference List of abbreviations List of recommendations

Chapter 1 Conduct and Context of the Inquiry	(PDF 152KB)
Context of the Inquiry Current Australian Government Policy Reviews Inquiry into Australia’s Future Tax System Pension Review Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Reform Agenda National Disability Agreement National Disability Strategy National Mental Health and Disability Employment Strategy Disability Investment Group Recent or Current Australian Parliamentary Inquiries Key Themes Emerging from this Inquiry

Chapter 2 Carer Identification, Demographics and Supports and Services	(PDF 202KB)
Definition and Use of the Term ‘Carer’ Meaning and Use of the Term Carer in the Inquiry ‘Hidden’ Carers Carer Identification The Need for Increased Carer Self-Identification Carer Identification through Surveys Amendments to the Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers The Demographic and Socio-Economic Profile of Carers Changing Models of Care and Implications of Demographic and Social Trends Consideration of the Implications of Demographics and Social Change Government Administration of Supports and Services Administration of Government Supports and Services for Carers and Care Receivers Financial Assistance for Carers Concession Cards Australian Government Programs and Services Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Department of Health and Ageing Department of Veterans’ Affairs State and Territory Government Programs and Services

Chapter 3 A National and Strategic Approach to Carer Recognition and Policy	(PDF 250KB)
The Role and Contribution of Carers Carer Recognition Increased Community Awareness A National Community Education Campaign Carer Recognition through Legislation and Policy The Framework of Existing Legislation and Policy The Need for Review of Existing Carer Legislation and Policy A National and Whole of Government Approach to Carer Legislation and Policy Support for National Carer Legislation and Policy A National Coordination Mechanism or Office for Carers Support for Increased Coordination

Chapter 4 Information, Skills and Capacity Building	(PDF 283KB)
Diversity of Information Needs Barriers to Information Access National Networks Providing Information A Single Access Point for Carers Peer Support Groups Skills Development and Capacity Building Coordination and Representation Advocacy for Carers Individual Advocacy Systemic Carer Advocacy Carers as Partners in Care Substitute Decision Making

Chapter 5 Financial Assistance	(PDF 271KB)
Financial Implications of Providing Care Government Financial Assistance for Carers Means Testing of Carer Payment Carer Bonuses Reform to the Income Support Systems for Carers Application and Assessment Processes for Income Support for Carers An Improved Approach to the Administration of Income Support for Carers Costs of Disability and Caring Initiatives to Assist with the Additional Costs of Disability and Caring Concession Cards and Allowances National Disability Insurance Scheme Future and Long Term Financial Security Improving the Long-Term Financial Security of Carers Improving the Long-Term Financial Security of Care Receivers

Chapter 6 Access to Supports and Services	(PDF 282KB)
Community Care Services The Accessibility and Availability of Community Care Services Eligibility and Assessments for Accessing Services Community Care Services in Regional and Remote Locations Community Care Services for Indigenous Carers Respite Care Services and In-Home Assistance Availability of Respite Care Services Affordability of Respite Respite Needs to be Flexible The Urgent Need for More Respite In-Home Assistance for Carers Waiting Lists as a Response to the Lack of Community Care Services Options for Reform Better Coordination Innovative Funding Models The Need for Improved Data and Forward Planning The Community Care Workforce Availability of Services for Care Receivers

Chapter 7 Employment and Education	(PDF 282KB)
Carer Participation in Paid Employment Barriers to Participation in Paid Employment for Carers Access to Alternative and Suitable Care Employed Carers Respite Initiative Tax Relief for Alternative Care Flexible Work Arrangements Flexible Work Arrangements and Legislation Employment and Workplace Advisory Services Returning to the Paid Employment after a Period of Absence Carer Income Support and Participation in the Workforce and Education Carers and Education

Chapter 8 Health and Wellbeing	(PDF 214KB)
The Impact of Caring on the Health and Wellbeing of Carers Physical Health of Carers Improving the Physical Health of Carers The Psychological and Emotional Wellbeing of Carers The Need for ‘Time Out’ in the Caring Role The Need for Psychological Support and Counselling The Impact on Other Members of the Family Social Isolation

Additional Comments — The Hon Judi Moylan MP	(PDF 51KB)

Appendix A – List of Submissions	(PDF 122KB)

Appendix B – List of Exhibits	(PDF 65KB)

Appendix C – List of Public Hearings	(PDF 83KB)

Appendix D - Payment costs and recipients 2006-07	(PDF 63KB)

Appendix E - Income support payments as at 1 July 2008	(PDF 63KB)

Appendix F - Supplementary payments as at 1 July 2008	(PDF 72KB)