Carers New Zealand Newsletter 25 June 2013

Carers New Zealand Newsletter

Last month the Government announced its long-awaited policy in relation to payment for family carers. It has allocated $23 million a year to pay minimum wage for up to 40 hours a week for approximately 1,600 parents supporting high needs adult disabled children.

Soon after this announcement government passed, under urgency, the Public Health and Disability Act, which prevents other carers (spouses, or those supporting disabled children or older people) from legally challenging the policy.

While an opportunity to discuss extending the payment to other categories of carers is on offer, the policy and accompanying legislation has offended carers, disability and human rights advocates, the Law Society, and the wider legal fraternity. Offering carers the minimum wage for the often intensive support they provide has also dismayed carers and those who value their efforts. Details about how the policy will be administered and who will qualify for payment have yet to be announced; Carers NZ and the Carers Alliance have not been asked for input.

We want to ensure a collective response from carers and their supporters to the new policy and the Act.  Please spend a few minutes sharing your views via our online survery, so we can provide united feedback to government, society, and the media. We are also seeking carers willing to be interviewed about this issue, and caring generally.

Click on the following link to have your say: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8GKTF25

IN THIS ISSUE:
• State of Caregiving Study
• Winter Family Care magazine available soon!

State of Caregiving Study

The University of Auckland Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences is seeking family carers to participate in a significant new study. If you support an ill, disabled, or frail friend or family member, please share your experiences in this study, which will give carers a stronger voice and greater visibility. Please click here to complete the online State of Caregiving Survey, which will be repeated annually for three years.  We have also attached a PDF one page letter (see below) from Tracey-Lee Dalton, the researcher who is leading the study.  We hope that hundreds of carers will take part in this research; responses are at 244 and counting!

StateOfCaregivingStudy.pdf(325.89 KB)

Winter Family Care magazine available soon!

The Winter issue of Family Care will be available soon. As usual our latest issue is packed with lots of helpful advice, information, and stories from carers. To request a free trial copy of the magazine or an infopack containing the latest issue, phone the National Carer Resource Centre 0800 777 797 during office hours, or send an email to sara@carers.net.nz

ENDS

© Scoop Media