Working Carers Program

The Working Carers Program provides respite to carers of frail older Australians including people with dementia. Carers must be employed, have definite (substantiated) plans to return to work or they must be in work related study and respite is therefore needed. The program is funded through the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, National Respite for Carers Program.

The prime objective of the Working Carers Program is to provide flexible, responsive respite to employed carers who may be finding it difficult to access mainstream services due to the hours they are required to work at their place of employment. This also includes shift work.

Respite options may include but is not limited to:

• in-home respite
• assistance with centre-based respite including extended service hours
• small group activities
• 1:1 activities
• a mixture of in-home and centre-based care.

Target Group:

The Working Carers Program focuses on employed carers, or those carers of frail older persons (65 years or over, or 50 and over if Indigenous) preparing for employment including carers of people with dementia and people with dementia who have Challenging Behaviours, and also include:

• People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• People who are financially disadvantaged
• People living in rural and remote Locations
• People who are socially isolated.

What is Respite?

An alternative care arrangement with the primary purpose of giving the carer a short term break from their usual caring duties..

"Working Carers" are carers who are employed, have definite and substantiated plans to return to work or those who are in related study preparing for future employment..

Priority

Meeting the needs of those carers experiencing "carer stress" as a result of being employed and/or experiencing difficulties in securing or sustaining employment while caring for a frail older person or a person with dementia.

Assessment of relative need takes into account the intensity of care required by the care recipient and other factors related to the needs and circumstances of the carer and care relationship.

Staff

The Team Leader will work with the family to implement a careplan and provide flexible respite to the carer.

Carers will be encouraged to join the carer's support group facilitated at the Tweed Valley Respite Service Cottage. Education and ongoing support will be offered to the family in answer to any changing needs

Hours of Service

Hours of service to clients will be based on the needs of the carer and their working hours. The program will be flexible and consider HACC National Service Guidelines and National Respite for Carer guidelines when prioritising clients access to service and required needs.

Cost of program:

Carers will be requested to contribute to service delivery..

However no one will be discriminated against or refused service on the grounds that they can not contribute to the cost of the service.

Further Information

Should you require further information regarding the program or wish to make a referral to the Working Carers Program, please contact the Team Leader, Kylie Baird on 02 6674 2267