Spotlight on Lived Experience of Carers

Earlier this year, Carers WA had the privilege of speaking with several carers who shared parts of their individual stories, including both the joys and the hardships of being a carer.

Their stories helped us highlight the remarkable contributions that each carer makes in sustaining and bringing the best quality of life to their loved ones. Their stories underscore the critical, though sometimes undervalued, role they fulfill in our society and the importance of accessing support.

A special thank you to Melinda, Emma, Stephen, Jensen, Starlene and Lorraine for sharing your story with us!

Young Carer Bursary

Young Carer Bursary

The Young Carer Bursary is a helping hand for young carers to make life a bit easier while they're studying and caring for someone. 

How much is it? Good news! In 2025 there are 1,592 bursaries. Each one is worth $3,768.

What can you use it for? The bursary money is there to help young carers with your education and the caring role. It could be used for things like:

• Buying a laptop for schoolwork
• Getting school uniforms or books
• Paying for transport to get to school or college
• Taking a break from caring
• Joining in with school activities that cost extra
• Paying for some school fees

Who can apply? You can apply for the bursary if you’re:

• Between 12 and 25 years old
• Looking after someone who needs extra help
• An Australian citizen or permanent resident
• Living in Australia
• Studying at school, TAFE, university, or another place that teaches courses or have an intent to study in 2025

To apply or to find out more click here. 

Highlights from Carers Week 2024

Thank you to everyone who participated in one of our National Carers Week activities. The week aims to shine a light on Australian carers’ resilience and sacrifice, and the profound impact that you have on our communities.

Carers WA Conference 2024 - Recordings Available Now

Thank you to all the carers who attended in-person and online for the Carers WA Conference 2024. 

We extend our gratitude to all remarkable speakers, especially keynote speaker Heather Simmons, and to the courageous carers on our panels. Thanks also to Lotterywest, Department of Communities, sponsors, and expo hosts for making this event possible.

We are excited to let you know that recordings of all sessions are now freely available online for anyone who missed out or wishes to revisit a session.

To watch the sessions now click here.

Upcoming Events with Carers WA

Perth Workshop: How do I deal with feeling guilty?

Guilt is a feeling that is a common experience in a carer’s life when they focus on caring for themselves. In this workshop, we will look at ways to rethink and refocus our thoughts and feelings of guilt to find a way to rest a little easier when we choose to make time for ourselves.

When: Tuesday, 26th November 2024
Where: Thornlie Park Meeting Room | 50-60 Thornlie Ave, Thornlie 6108
Cost: Free to participants registered with Carers WA.

A complimentary light lunch included.

Registrations are essential for the course. To register your interest click here.

Albany: Be Job Ready Workshop

Carers WA is excited to present the Be Job Ready Essentials workshop, a comprehensive 2-day course being held in Albany this November 2024. Our sessions are packed with realistic insights and hands-on skills, all designed to help you apply, secure, and sustain employment successfully.

Registrations are essential. Light lunch will be provided.

Session 1: Tuesday, 5th November 2024 | 10.00am – 3.00pm

• Identifying Hidden Skills
• Resume and Cover Letter Writing

Session 2: Wednesday, 6th November 2024 | 10.00am – 3.00pm

• Interview Techniques
• Job Searching
• Dressing for Interviews

To register your interest click here. 

Albany: Carer Friendly Employers

In Australia, 70% of working age carers are employed and are combining paid work with caring for someone. If you want to be an employer of choice, it is important to be able to acknowledge carers in your workplace and know what resources are available.

Becoming a Carer Friendly Employer will have multiple benefits including a formal accreditation, attraction and retention of staff, increase in productivity and decrease in employment stress, and much more.

When: Wednesday, 6th November 2024 | 2.00pm - 3.00pm
Where: 102 North Road, Yakamia

To register you interest click here.

Other Free Events for Carers

Carer Representation Updates

News and Updates for Carer Representatives

This month a number of the Carers WA Carer Representatives had the opportunity to enjoy morning tea at Government House to celebrate National Carers Week and the 20th anniversary of the Carers Recognition Act 2004. We were also privileged to be accompanied by Hon. Sheila McHale AM, former Minister for Community Services, who was instrumental in passing the Carers Recognition Act during her tenure.

If you are one of our registered Carer Representatives don't forget to mark these dates in your diary for upcoming meetings: 

• HADSCO and AHPRA Complaints Resolution Information Session
  Tuesday, 12th November 2024
• Carer Rep Workshop - Mindfulness & Mental Health
  Friday, 15th November 2024

For those interested in finding out more or becoming a Carer Representative please register your interest for our upcoming orientation or contact carer.rep@carerswa.asn.au

Policy And Advocacy

WA Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs Strategy 2025-2030 Carer Survey

Carers WA is consulting with WA carers, on behalf of the WA Mental Health Commission, to assist in informing the development of the WA Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs Strategy 2025-2030 (the Strategy). Your feedback is vital to ensuring the Strategy meets the needs of carers, individuals, families, communities and the sector.

Feedback can be provided through:
- This survey
- Carers WA’s consultation with carers on Monday, 18th November (click here to register)
- Or through alternate consultation methods on the Mental Health Commission website here.

Respondents to Carers WA’s survey will have the opportunity to enter their details to be in a draw for one of two $50 Prezzie gift vouchers.

The Strategy will be used to guide the mental health and alcohol and other drugs systems towards transformative change across services.

Policy Update

Recent submissions:
•    Draft Lists of NDIS Supports
•    National Carer Strategy
•    WA Eating Disorder Framework
•    WA School Education Act 1999 Review

Recent meetings and consultations:
•    Meetings with University of Western Australia; Shelter WA; WANDA; Monash University; COMHWA; Department of Communities and Director General Mike Rowe; HaDSCO; and the Disability Health Network Executive Advisory Group.
•    Recent Carers WA carer consultation session on the draft WA Eating Disorder Framework.

Consultations: Supports Outside of the NDIS

Governments are working together to design and deliver additional supports in the community. These are known as Foundational Supports. Foundational Supports are specific supports that would be outside the NDIS to help people with disability, and their families and carers.

General Supports will include things like trusted information and guidance, peer supports and capacity building that help people and their families to engage in the community and to advocate for – and make decisions about – matters that affect them.

Join in on an online roundtable to have your say on General Foundational Supports.

To register your interest click here.

National Carer Survey Results

A big thank you to all who took part in the National Carer Survey! Your input is invaluable.

The National Carer Survey is conducted every two years by Carers NSW and received 10,096 responses from carers across Australia.

The results and insights contribute to the broader understanding and recognition of carers' experiences and needs.

For key national, state and territory highlights, as well as fact sheets on First Nations carers and young carers, click here. 

Get Social With Us

Latest Surveys

Our new survey page on the Carers WA website is now available for your use. By participating in these surveys, you're contributing to vital research and assisting systemic advocacy which shapes policies that directly affect carers.

News & Updates

Carers WA AGM - Annual Report

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our 2024 AGM and Networking event.

A special thank you to the Hon. Alanna Clohesy MLC for opening the event, to our Board Chair Linda Wayman for emceeing, Paul Flatau - Director for The Centre for Social Impact at UWA and Rae for sharing about her lived experience as a carer and Carer Representative.

For highlights from the last financial year, view our Annual Report here.

Young Carer Program Evaluation

This report, conducted by the Centre for Social Impact at the University of Western Australia, evaluates our Young Carers program in Western Australia, highlights the pressing need for greater supports for all young carers, but especially mental health assistance for those under 14 years old, finding that many mental health support services have high fees, long waiting lists, or will not accept young carers based on strict criteria.

The research underscores the crucial role of the education system in recognising and uplifting school-aged young people, advocating for stronger identification processes and robust support mechanisms within schools.

This call to action emphasises the urgent responsibility to safeguard the well-being and future of our youngest carers.

To read more click here.

Future Living

If you are like most parents, you are constantly thinking about who will be there for your son or daughter when you are not. When you are the parents of an adult child with a developmental disability, this can raise a lot more questions than answers. 

The good news is it's never too early or never too late to take steps to safeguard your son's or daughter's future. 

Whether you're wondering where to start, or you want to make changes to existing arrangements, Future Living has all the professional advice you need to support your journey. 

To find out more click here.