October 24th, 2021Support for carers

Local unpaid carers who selflessly support their loved ones will receive more support from the Victorian Government to help care for their own wellbeing.
Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas announced The Romsey Neighbourhood House would receive $20,228 for local physical, emotional and social support for carers of people with aging and/or dementia issues, disability, chronic illness, mental health issues living in Romsey through the Neighbourhood House’s Mind Health Hub offering telehealth services and mental health support to carers to manage emotional wellbeing and stress.
PS My Family Matters will receive $38,000 to broaden the existing peer support network for carers in the Macedon Ranges and Sunbury and to provide post pandemic funds to carers to assist with capacity building and to help them with their everyday needs. This will include recruiting peer support volunteers, developing a social media campaign, providing mental health first aid training, developing a well-being and self-care program and developing a ‘Coffee for Carers’ and ‘Pizza for Carers’ in new locations.
The announcement was made as part of Carers Week, which ran from October 10-16.
The funding is part of than $2.6 million for organisations across Victoria to support carers to reconnect when it’s safe to do so through activities like morning teas, bushwalks and virtual cooking classes – as well as information sessions and online forums to support carers from multicultural background to access the right supports.
Across Victoria, more than 736,000 carers give their time and effort to look after a family member or friend who needs them, whether due to chronic disease, mental illness, disability or old age.
Fifty-six organisations will receive grants totalling $1.75 million through the Supporting Carers Locally Grants Program. The grants will help carers access peer support, community support programs and other tailored resources supporting their physical and mental health, and help them connect with family, friends and other carers.
Additionally, five organisations will share in $917,000 through the Statewide Partnership Grants Program, which will support partnerships between carer organisations and other community support organisations to deliver innovative projects that benefit carers across the state.
The five recipient organisations are Little Dreamers, Different Journeys, Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria, Financial Counselling Victoria and Tandem.
Respite is also available to carers through the Support for Carers program, which is accessible during lockdown. The full list of Supporting Carers Locally Grants Program recipients can be found at: vic.gov.au/grants-benefit-carers-and-support-their-wellbeing.
Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers James Merlino said carers did such an incredible job caring for loved ones and it was critical they got the support and downtime they needed to keep themselves well.