UPCOMING EVENTS FOR CARERS ...

Visit the Carer Event Diary to view other events and activities happening in the region.

Bradfield Park Wellbeing Centre Carers Program holds many information sessions and workshops for Carers of someone with a mental illness. Please check the Mental Health Carers and Young Carers sections of this site. For more information on the Carers Program contact Ruth Jacka on 8920 0675 or email bradfieldparkcoordinator@kncsydney.org

What does the Carer Support Service do?

The Northern Sydney Carer Support Service is funded through the NSW Department of Health's Carers Program. Carer Support Services were developed in each of the Area Health Services and our aim is to improve the responsiveness of the health system to the needs of Carers, and improve access to the health system for Carers. We provide information, support, education, and links to services for Carers to assist them in caring for a partner, family member or friend who has a long-term illness or disability, or who is frail-aged.

Carer Support staff are in each of the public hospitals in the Northern Sydney region, working with Health staff to seek ways of addressing the needs of Carers whilst the person they care for (the Caree) is in hospital, and highlighting the need for inclusion of the Carer in post-discharge discussions regarding care that they may be required to give the Caree at home.

Area Health Services have developed a local Carer Action Plan that outlines the Carer Support strategies it will implement to address the five key priority areas identified in the NSW State Government's Carer Action Plan. Download the NSCCAHS Carer Action Plan.

Carers who would like be on our mailing list or who wish to share their caring journey with us are encouraged to contact us on 8877 5349 or email rdsmith@nsccahs.health.nsw.gov.au

The Northern Sydney Carer Support Service Team

Barbara Lewis, Northern Sydney Carer Support Service - Manager
Megan Evans, Carer Support Officer - Young Carers & FAMI Club, Ph.8877 5283
Pam Smith, Carer Support Officer - Ryde & Hornsby Hospitals, mob. 0434 327 577
Sato Hacopian, Carer Support Officer - RNSH, Culturally & Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities, Ph.9926 6663
Mary DiMattina, Carer Support Officer - Manly & Mona Vale Hospitals, mob.0434 323 411
Robyn Smith, Carer Support Officer - Communication, Ph.8877 5108

Our office hours are 8.30 - 5.00pm Monday to Friday.
Telephone: 8877 5349
Facsimile: 8877 5320
Email: carersns@nsccahs.health.nsw.gov.au
Postal: Carer Support Service
Locked Bag 2220
Gnd Floor, The Lodge, Macquarie Hospital
North Ryde NSW 1670

Carers' News and Latest Updates

The Carer Support Service would like to congratulate Cheryl Koenig who has been named Woman of the Year 2009. Cheryl is the author of Paper Cranes: A Mother's Story of Hope Courage and Determination, which chronicles her family's journey following her son's severe brain injury from a car accident.

On Friday 1 May 2009, the Family, Community, Housing and Youth Committee launched its report on the inquiry into better support for Carers entitled Who Cares ...? The report is the result of consultation with more than 1300 Carers, who shared their very personal and often distressing experiences with the Committee, leading the Committee to give consideration to diverse options for reform to address deficiencies in the current systems of support for Carers. Download a copy of Who Cares ...? from the Australian Parliament House website.

Men as Carers is the subject of the Mens Health Unit, NSCCAHS, February 2009 menslink newsletter. It covers men who are Carers, workforce Carers, the health issues experienced by men in their caring role and presents ideas for maintaining good health and well-being whilst caring for another person.

The Office of Industrial Relation's Caring Works Online Forum was developed in order to support working carers. Comments are welcome.

The NSW Carers Action Plan The NSW Department of Health's Carers Action Plan 2007-2012 outlines the Government's commitment to identify, validate and offer practical help for Carers. Five key priority areas have been identified, 1. Carers are recognised, respected and valued, 2. Hidden Carers are identified and supported, 3. Services for Carers and the people they care for are improved, 4. Carers are partners in care, and 5. Carers are supported to combine caring and work. The NSW Carers Action Plan reflects a connected approach, recognising that support for Carers crosses a range of policy areas such as ageing, community support, health, education, transport, employment and industrial relations.

Click this link to download the NSW Carers Action Plan

Who Cares? 2.5 million Australians: ABS, 2008

Around 2.5 million Australians aged 15 years and over care for someone at home because of a disability or old age, according to a new report released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. ABS Media Release

Further details can be found in A Profile of Carers in Australia, 2008, a report that brings together information from a range of surveys conducted between 2003 and 2006 to paint a picture of Carers in contemporary Australian society.

In the Northern Sydney region there are approximately 120,000 Carers, of which 20,000 are Primary Carers (a Primary Carer is the main provider of care to someone in the core activities of daily living such as dressing, eating or moving around the house.)

The total of all Carers is projected to increase by 160% over the next 15 years.