A new partnership between Wellways and veteran mental health ambassador Kevin Humphreys DSC marks the beginning of a new journey, providing more support for carers within the defence community.
Wellways’ CEO Laura Collister said this partnership was an important step towards meeting the National Carer Strategy Action Plan to reach more communities and groups that often fly under the radar.
Members of the Women in Tune group – a social group founded in the 1980s by wives of Vietnam veterans – attended the Caring for Veterans event in Brisbane.
Veteran carer Annie said the role of carers was crucial for veterans, yet they remain very under supported.
“There’s not a lot of support for parents and I’m sure there are many veterans who only have their mum or dad because a lot of marriages break down, and I’m just looking for anything that will help me, help my son better,” she said.
“The carer’s role in a veteran’s life can be the difference between life and death which in a number of instances it has been for my son.”
Wellways recognises the essential role carers play in the recovery of veterans after service and provides support to ensure they are not alone, offering carers the same level of care as they give to the people they support.
Giving veteran carers the tools to thrive
In August, Wellways launched the first event in its Caring for Veterans series in Brisbane, the first of many across Queensland and Katoomba in NSW. The event also marked the start of partnership workshops with Kevin Humphreys DSC, who draws on his lived experience as a veteran to equip carers with practical tools for supporting themselves while caring for a veteran family member or friend.
Over 65 carers gathered in Brisbane for the Caring for Veterans event.
The workshops include a Mental Health First Aid course – a two-day accredited course designed to build confidence in a mental health crisis – and an Immersion Program, which offers carers two days to reset, reflect and reconnect.
The two courses are aimed at providing carers and parents of veterans and defence personnel with practical tools to take care of their wellbeing and as Mr Humphreys said, “learn to be selfish so they can be selfless”.
Mr Humphreys said this was a great opportunity to support family members of veterans who are often undersupported in the wider defence system.
“We’re looking at how Wellways Carer Gateway in partnership with us can better provide support to parents and carers who are actually excluded from the wider defence and Department of Veterans Affairs systems and programs because they don’t meet the legislative requirements of family,” he said.
“And Wellways Carer Gateway is taking a bold initiative when looking to expand their services to help care for those who care for our defence members.”
National Manager Carer Gateway Louise Faulkner and Kevin Humphreys DSC signing a copy of his memoir Shrapnel in the Soul
Speaking at the event, Laura Collister said “Wellways cannot be an expert in every carer experience and more and more we recognise that there are groups in the community that do such great work, and we have the opportunity to support that work and provide services to people whose needs are not currently being met.
“Kevin Humphreys is part of that. He brings with him his veteran expertise to Carer Gateway and makes it available,” Ms Collister said.
Carers at the event welcomed much-needed support, especially parents of veterans who are not legally included in the defence support systems.
“I would love to attend these courses, and it makes me happy to think that I can get some support because as a parent I’m usually not eligible for support,” carer Annie said.
“Seeing workshops like this is validating and I’ll never stop hoping and I’ll never stop supporting my son.”
Get involved
The Mental Health First Aid and Immersion Programs are set to begin from September across Queensland and Katoomba, NSW.