The Rockliff Liberal Government recognises and celebrates the important contributions that our more than 80,000 unpaid Tasmanian carers make to their local communities, our State, and our economy.
As part of the reforms under the Government's new Carer Recognition legislation, the new Minister's Carer Advisory Council has been established, with five members with lived caring experience being appointed.
The Council has been created to provide advice, information and insights about issues affecting carers to assist in the development and delivery of informed, effective and evidence-based policy, programs and projects to support and recognise unpaid carers.
It will play a key role in monitoring the implementation of the Tasmanian Carer Action Plan and annual Tasmanian Government agency reporting requirements.
The five new members with lived caring experience appointed to the Council are Elizabeth Webber, Isabella Dewar, Frances Findley, Codie Baylis and John Flack.
The Council's membership also includes CEOs of Carers Tasmania and Mental Health Families and Friends Tasmania, and senior officials from relevant Tasmanian and Australian Government agencies.
Minister for Community Services and Development, Nic Street, reiterated the Government's commitment towards recognising, promoting and valuing the importance of care relationships.
"I am very proud to have delivered on our election commitment to formally recognise carers in legislation last week," he said.
"An important part of the new legislation is the current Carer Issues Reference Group which will be elevated to a Ministerial Advisory Council. We have now delivered on that too.
"The EOI process for the Council attracted a very strong field of candidates, and I am pleased to announce I have selected the five to form the Council. In making this selection, I have taken into consideration a range of caring experiences as well as appropriate regional representation.
"The Council will meet with me three times a year, and I look forward to engaging with our selected carer representatives to inform the important work moving forward from our starting point of our Carer Recognition Bill."
