More state-wide services and greater mental health supports to help Victoria's more than 700,000 carers are two of the key asks in the Carers Victoria Election Statement released today.
Carers Victoria CEO Judith Abbott said securing longer term funded services and support for carers was critical with hundreds of thousands more Victorians expected to become carers over the next three years.
"Carers play a vital role in our community supporting family or friends with a disability, mental illness or significant health or age-related issues. All of us at some point in our lives will either be a carer, need a carer or know a carer," Ms Abbott said.
"By 2025, the number of carers in Victoria will rise to at least one million; 1 in 7 of us will be carers, including young Victorians in many of the state's classrooms.
'We know Victorian carers experience poor mental health at over twice the rate of the general population. Ahead of Victoria's state election in November, Carers Victoria has developed and prioritised five areas where concrete action will make a difference for the state's current and future carers."
Carers Victoria's five election priorities are:
- Support carer mental health and wellbeing
- More services and better navigation for carers
- Support carers in crisis
- Support more carers into paid employment and study
- Integrate carer expertise and input into key service systems
These priorities have been developed in response to both in-depth demographic and service program research as well as in direct response to what Victoria's carers have shared they need to continue to be able to perform their vital caring role.
"Carers' unpaid work already saves the Victorian economy over $19 billion a year and those savings will grow as more of us become carers over the next few years," Ms Abbott said.
"But carers often pay a substantial individual cost for their efforts, with many accumulating a lifetime loss of income and superannuation of more than half a million dollars.
"Caring is a shared responsibility between us all so let's not overlook the needs of carers who play such a vital role in our community," Ms Abbott said.
"These are relatively modest and practical asks that can make a real difference for carers and we are keen to see MPs commit to them."
"We know carers often experience poorer mental health and wellbeing because of their caring role. The good news is that a modest investment in these measures will have a big impact, and we want to see support for all carers embedded in the new Victorian local mental health and wellbeing centres," Ms Abbott said.
"Sadly, recent government reforms resulted in the net loss of carer services in Melbourne so the first step is to restore that funding and then expand it to meet the predicted growth in carer numbers across the state," Ms Abbott said.
"It's very clear that there will be increased demands on government services if we don't sensibly and appropriately fund support services to ensure the well-being of carers."
Recent natural disasters such as bushfires and the pandemic have also highlighted the need for a carer crisis line to provide advice and support to carers during emergencies.
"Carers also need support when the person they're supporting is in hospital, so they can assist them through the hospital stay and discharge, improving their recovery," Ms Abbott said.
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