There are over 2.8 million family and friend carers in Australia providing 36 million hours of care and support every week to a family member or friend who has a disability, mental illness, drug and/or alcohol dependency, chronic condition, terminal illness or who is frail or ageing.
Australia counts on carers and National Carers Week, 15-21 October 2017, as a time to recognise and celebrate the outstanding contribution carers make to our nation. Anyone at any time can become a carer and National Carers Week is an opportunity to raise awareness among all staff at Macquarie University about the diversity of their roles.
Workplace Equity and Diversity in partnership with Carers NSW are letting carers know they count by holding a series of workshops with practical advice and insight for carers and managers of staff who have caring responsibilities. There will also be an opportunity over these two days in October for staff to have one-on-one meetings with a counsellor from Carers NSW who can provide support and advice for individual cases.
Register here for the below workshops.
Tuesday 17 Oct
Health and Wellbeing for Carers: Many carers put their own health and wellbeing low on their list of priorities and four in five carers report below average wellbeing.
This workshop provides carers with practical tips and strategies to support their own health and wellbeing.
By the end of this workshop, participants will;
- understand the impact of caring for their own health and wellbeing
- be familiar with strategies that will support their own physical and emotional wellbeing
- understand how Carers NSW supports carers
- know how to access support
- have the ability to develop their own self-care/action plan
Future Planning: The demands of a carer’s role can make it difficult to find time to plan ahead. This workshop provides carers with information on estate planning and some of the legal considerations that carers may face when managing health, finance, assets and lifestyle decisions on behalf of a loved one.
By the end of the workshop, participants will:
- understand the importance of planning ahead
- identify available tools and resources that can support future planning
- identify personal needs to be considered when planning for the future
The Future Planning session also contains information on:
- Advanced Care Directives
- Advanced Care Plans
- Emergency Care Plans
- Enduring Guardianships
- Enduring Power of Attorneys
- Guardianships
- Power of Attorneys
- Special Disability Trusts
- Trusts
- Wills
Wednesday 18 Oct
Getting prepared when someone you know is ageing: This workshop provides an introduction to caring for an ageing loved one and includes information on how to access services and the process of transitioning into aged care.
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- understand the nature and practical implications of caring for an ageing person
- have an understanding of how to prepare and plan for becoming a carer for an ageing person
- be aware of the role and services of Carers NSW
Awareness of Staff who have caring responsibilities: Employers who are aware of carers and understand their role are better equipped to provide support that enables carers to balance paid employment and care responsibilities.
By the end of this module, participants will be able to:
- understand the role and value of carers in the community
- recognise hidden carers and have the ability to seek support for them
- recognise when someone is in need of support
- implement and promote inclusive workplace practices
Managing staff who have caring responsibilities: This module equips managers with the knowledge and skills to identify and support carers in the workplace. By the end of this module, mangers will be familiar with practical approaches to supporting staff who have caring responsibilities. The implemented approaches will supplement existing strategies within the organisation.
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