Media Release
October 16 2006
Carer's role vital for future health planning and education
With almost three million Australians providing informal care for
parents, partners, children and relatives, and those numbers set to rise
as the population gets older, it is vital that health professionals are
better educated about the complex issues and emotions carers deal with
in their role.
The 2006 Carers Oration, Anyone, Anytime, to be held at the
University of South Australia’s City East campus from 3.15 pm Tuesday
October 17 as part of National Carers Week, will see researcher
Dr Kay Price examine the deeply personal choices people make when
they take on the role of carer and the impacts it has on their lives.
“We know that in a general sense, maximising independence and autonomy
for people as they grow older or physically dependent has a positive
impact on their well-being,” Dr Price said. But perhaps what we don’t
examine as closely as we should, is what that independence may require
of carers.
“It is all very well for health professionals and policy makers to laud
the benefits of home care but they must also consider the challenges –
the changes and burdens placed on the people who will become unpaid
carers.”
Dr Price says the issues are broad and range from financial, right
through to an individual’s skills and capacity to become a carer or
their psychological and physical health while they are caring for
others.
“There is a real gap in the care-giving literature about how health
professionals can engage in an effective collaboration with carers to
provide support for their role. We need to move beyond a paternalistic
approach that has health professionals making decisions and reviews of
those who need to be cared for in isolation from their carers.
“If you look at what the immediate future holds for aged care alone, it
is clear that support for carers will be pivotal in handling a looming
care crisis. Statistically there will be fewer and fewer people
contributing – both as carers and taxpayers - to the care of more and
more.
“In meeting these challenges I want to urge health professionals to
learn how best to work with families and significant others. To learn
how learn how to join with them to make decisions about who is best to
provide care at home so that important relationships, between partners,
siblings and parents, relatives and friends are preserved.
“And most importantly, since the introduction of the
Carers Recognition Act 2005, the challenge is out for educators to
ensure that in teaching new generations of health care professionals,
students learn to engage with carers and value their role and
knowledge.”
2006 Carers Oration
Where: UniSA City East campus, Hetzel Building, Mutual Community Theatre
When: Event starts at 3.13pm Orations begins at 4 pm.
In attendance: UniSA Vice Chancellor Professor Denise Bradley: Minister
for Health, John Hill: CEO Carers SA, Rosemary Warmington.
National Carers Week (October 16 – 20) is an Australian Government
initiative providing a national focus on the issues facing Australia’s
2.6 million unpaid carers both now and in the future.
For further information
regarding any of the activities occurring during Carers Week or for
carer support services please call 1800 242 636.
Media contact
- Michèle Nardelli office (08) 8302 0966 mobile 0418 823 673 email michele.nardelli@unisa.edu.au