Strategy Consultation Begins
Caring for New Zealand Carers
400,000+ Kiwis have opportunity for Government input from today.
The Government has partnered with more than 40 national non-profits to seek feedback from New Zealanders who care for ill, elderly, and disabled family members.
Historically most health services have focused on the needs of individual patients, without considering the impact of illness or disability on the whole family, says John Forman, chairman of the New Zealand Carers Alliance.
"The Government's Carers' Strategy will redress this imbalance, looking at the kinds of help families need when someone has an accident, is diagnosed with an illness, or requires support due to disability."
The Carers Alliance was established in late 2004 by national charity Carers NZ, which supports family carers across age groups and health conditions. According to Census 2006, more than 400,000 New Zealanders care for someone ill or disabled living with them, or in another location. A majority of carers are of workforce age and juggle their caring role with holding down a job. More than 8% of all carers are in the 15 to 24 age bracket, a substantial but previously unrecognised community of young people whose extra responsibilities can impact their social, educational, and employment opportunities, says Mr Forman.
"Caring is a universally positive human experience. People choose to be carers because they care about their families and whanau. But it's time now to ensure that New Zealanders in caring situations get the learning, information, advice, choices, and support they need to cope with their role and live full and happy lives."
"People are living for longer, in some cases, with chronic conditions that require ongoing support. With the Carers' Strategy, New Zealand is preparing for a future with greater numbers of elderly, and caring situations that require years of commitment by families. Having a Strategy is a social justice outcome, but it also has a practical focus - family carers are New Zealand's biggest health workforce. Supporting carers is a way to strengthen one of our most important communities of health workers."
The Carers Alliance has a partnership with the Government through the Ministry of Social Development to host public meetings across the country from today through 14 September. Non-profits in the Alliance are also promoting the Strategy to families nationally, and organising their own meetings to give carers opportunities to talk about their lives and support needs.
Carers who aren't able to attend a meeting can download the Government's Strategy submission document at www.msd.govt.nz/work-areas/cross-sectoral-work/carers-strategy, or send an email with their comments to carersstrategy@msd.govt.nz by 14 September.
Mr Forman says Britain is the only other country in the world that has a national strategy for carers. Introduced by Tony Blair's government in 1999, that country's Carers' Strategy was reviewed late last year, and new measures to help carers are being implemented on the back of legislation that gives carers formal rights to help them live ordinary lives.
The New Zealand Government's Carers' Strategy will be developed after public submissions close, and it will be launched by mid 2008 with a five-year Action Plan.