First anniversary of service dedicated to support 2.7 million unpaid carers

Carer Gateway celebrates its one-year anniversary on 6 April, marking twelve months since the introduction of the Australian Government funded support service providing dedicated carer services to Australia’s 2.7 million unpaid carers.

With 1 in 8 Australians caring for a family member or friend who needs support due to disability, age, mental ill health, or long-term physical illness, Carer Gateway has been available to over 700,000 carers in Queensland and the New South Wales Regions of South West Sydney and Nepean Blue mountains seeking specialist carer-focused services including counselling, peer support, carer support planning and carer directed support packages, as well as emergency respite services.

Over the past twelve months, Wellways Carer Gateway has established shopfronts, service outlets and a flexible workforce to achieve service coverage across urban, regional and rural Queensland and New South Wales.

Wellways Australia’s Acting Carer Gateway Services Manager, Adam Campbell said that carers like so many Australians have been resilient through a prolonged period of concern over the impact of COVID-19 and the coronavirus pandemic. Establishing a dedicated service for carers that included counselling, peer support and respite could not have been timelier.

“Many carers have been conscious of the serious consequences COVID-19 has on their care recipient. The services provided by Carer Gateway has meant carers have not had to deal with stress and anxiety in isolation,” Mr Campbell said.

“We know carers need more support, not less and the supports offered through Carer Gateway provide practical advice and support for all carers.

“Wellways Carer Gateway has been innovative in how they deliver carer services, responding to the circumstances with a digital transformation in order to better support and reach all carers, whether they’re based in metropolitan, regional or remote communities.

“Getting help early can make a big difference to a carer’s life, reducing carer stress and improving wellbeing.

“Providing supports to young carers, carers within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and carers of CALD backgrounds has been one of the real successes of the Australian Government initiative,” said Mr Campbell.

Whatever a carer’s circumstances, Carer Gateway is a great, free resource available to all carers.