Victorian Carers Legislation Introduced into Parliament
9 February 2012 at 4:15 pm
The Victorian Coalition Government has introduction new legislation recognising and valuing the role of carers in Victoria.
The Victorian Coalition Government says it has honoured an election commitment with the introduction of new legislation.
Community Services Minister Mary Wooldridge said the Carers Recognition Bill 2012 recognises all carers, including young carers, kinship and foster carers, and people providing support and assistance for someone with a mental or chronic illness, and those supporting ageing parents, the frail aged or a person with a disability.
Wooldridge said that the Bill will raise the status of these carers and care relationships in the community and sets out principles recognising carers for their contribution.
“For the first time, Victoria will have legislation that sets out clear expectations for organisations that engage with people in care relationships about how they should be treated,” Wooldridge said.
Wooldridge said the Bill would bring Victoria into line with legislation in other states and territories and the Commonwealth.
"However, the Bill is unique in recognising care relationships. Carers and the people they care for are in a shared arrangement and if the care relationship is strong, the carer and the person being cared for will have better lives," Wooldridge said.
"This approach to recognising the significance of care relationships has been the subject of extensive consultation.
The legislation requires government and funded agencies to reflect the care relationship principles in the conduct of their business and report annually on the actions they have taken to comply with the principles."
The Victorian Charter Supporting People in Care Relationships will be updated to reflect the new legislation and will support implementation of the Bill.
The Legislation can be downloaded at www.legislation.vic.gov.au
Read the Minister's second reading speech here.
Want Pro Bono Australia News delivered straight to your inbox? Subscribe now – it's free!
