Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 1 Hansard (18 February) . . Page.. 336 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

Issues were highlighted at a community forum last year. No one from the government attended, though they were invited. The forum recommended that there be an education program for those in contact with these children eg; teacher, welfare agencies. Is the Minister aware of these recommendations, and if so, doing anything to about implementing the recommendations?

My answer is as follows:

I am happy to provide the following details in response to Mr Osborne's question of yesterday regarding the issue of children who are care givers.

The department is aware that there are young carers in our community. However the numbers indicated by Mr Osborne require further investigation. I understand that these figures are extrapolated from statistical sources and more detailed analysis is required to identify the actual numbers of young carers and indeed to define the types and level of care that these young people are providing.

The department is aware of the development amongst service providers of the young carers network and the forum to which Mr Osborne refers. The department was happy to receive a report of the outcomes of the forum and is actively pursuing resolution of the issues raised in partnership with the Carers Association of the ACT

In particular the department is currently progressing the following initiatives to support carers:

$6,500 has recently been granted to Carers Association ACT under Home and Community Care (HACC) slippage for the development of training resource kit to support generic services understand the needs of carers (young and old);

officers of the Department met with Carers Association on 28 January 1999 to seek further information about the needs of young carers and as a result of this meeting will be recommending the allocation of one off funds under HACC slippage to support a young carers project under a HACC slippage package currently being developed for joint Ministerial approval;

the needs of young carers, as well as carers in general, will be a factor considered in policy and planning for future disability and HACC services; and

officers of the department are making arrangements to have the issues of young carers raised within the context of the International Homecare and HACC Conference being held in Brisbane in March 1999.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .