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Career

Resources and information for carers

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C

arers Australia are pleased to provide information and resources for members of Jobs Academy who are carers.

Many carers don’t even realise they are carers. Carers are people who provide unpaid care and support to someone with a disability, mental illness, chronic condition, terminal illness, an alcohol or other drug issue or who are frail aged.

Read on below for external support services and information for carers, covering everything from financial aid to counselling services and navigating the different stages of your caring role. You can also read our article about how to support your mental health during your return to work.

Carers in the Workplace

If you are a carer looking to learn more about your rights, and tips for talking about your caring role at work, check out Carers Australia’s ‘Carers in the Workplace Guide’.

Here you’ll find information on:

  • Workplace entitlements for carers
  • Right to request flexible work
  • Balancing work and caring commitments

You can also learn about the benefits of investing in carers in the workplace.

Support for carers

If you are a carer in need of support, practical advice or if you’re seeking other carer connections, visit the Carer Gateway.

Carer Gateway service providers deliver a range of support services to unpaid carers, such as:

  • In-person and phone-based counselling
  • Online self-guided coaching
  • Emergency and planned respite
  • In-person and online peer support
  • Online skills courses
  • Financial packages focused on employment, education, respite and transport.

It also provides information, practical advice and resources on a range of topics, including:

  • Information on the types of care and stages of caring
  • Advice on how to look after yourself while caring for someone
  • Information on respite care
  • Managing day-to-day care
  • Legal and financial support considerations
  • What to do in an emergency or crisis situation
  • Help on combining caring with work or study
  • Assistance with navigating local services including the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), My Aged Care and palliative care.

You can contact the Carer Gateway by calling 1800 422 737 Monday to Friday between 8am and 5pm, or visit the Carer Gateway website.

Advocacy for carers

If you’re a carer looking to find out more about what support, services or networks are available to you, you can reach out to your local carer organisation.

The National Carer Network is made up for carer organisations in each state and territory around Australia. Find your local organisation here.

Carers Australia – Women Who Care

Carers Australia Women Who Care project is a communication and capacity building initiative which is underpinned by our online ‘hub’. This hub compiles resources and information for both women carers and employers, with a focus on supporting Women Carers workforce participation, and increasing the recognition of the value of employing women carers when they pursue employment opportunities.

The Women Who Care online hub is updated regularly with the latest resources and information to help support both carers and employers in their journeys.

Visit the Women Who Care online hub today.

The Secret Life of Carers – Season 3

Carers Australia’s podcast, The Secret Life of Carers, highlights the unique experiences of Australia’s 2.65 million unpaid carers. Each episode shares a story from everyday people reflecting on their role as a carer, the people they support, and the services they access.

The Secret Life of Carers Season 3 focuses on the unique challenges women who care face in employment.

Hosted by FW’s own Jamila Rizvi, this season she speaks with five fascinating women in varying stages of their career/work experience to better understand their unique challenges and address the caring employment gap.

Episodes are available from July 2023 and are available on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts and more.

Season 3, developed by Carers Australia as part of the Women Who Care program, was made possible thanks to support from the Australian Government Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s Office for Women.

In S3 Ep3 ‘Bhupinder’, Jamila interviews Jobs Academy’s own Bhupinder.

Bhupinder worked hard to get the life she wanted and deserve, but unfortunately lost it due to no fault of her own. After several years spent caring for her husband, raising two kids and managing several moves across continents, she had the chance to go back to work.

When faced with the daunting reality of reevaluating her values and redefining her passions, Bhupinder reached out for help through Future Women’s Jobs Academy.

Bhupinder shares how Jobs Academy helped her regain confidence, redefine herself and her carer experience, and find new opportunities.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts and more.

Mindfulness for carers

Mindfulness is a way of being fully present and awake in every moment, relating to all of life as it happens and changes.

Carers Australia’s ‘Mindfulness on Demand’ series has been created specifically for carers with Simply Mindful – Canberra Mindfulness Center. Sessions include Stress & Anxiety, Mindfulness on the go, Self-compassion and Mindfulness to help you sleep.

As a carer you may be eligible for specific financial support payments from the Federal Government to assist meeting your basic costs of living, providing you meet eligibility requirements which include living in Australia and meeting residence requirements.

To learn more about financial support payments for carers, visit the Carers Australia website.

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