New Program for Carers to Provide Extra Support
30 May 2013 at 4:37 pm
A new support group program for carers of people with disabilities has been launched in New South Wales.
Carers NSW and the NSW Department of Family and Community Services, Ageing, Disability and Home Care launched the program to provide support, training and networking opportunities for carers in regional NSW.
The Together Program will be rolled out across the southern, western and far western areas of NSW before being progressively rolled out across the rest of the State.
Carers NSW CEO Elena Katrakis said the program would help create a strong network of support groups for carers of people with disabilities across the state.
‘‘Carer support groups play an important role in the lives of many carers in NSW so it is important for us to support these groups and the work they do,” she said.
‘‘Many carer support groups operate in isolation and do not benefit from the knowledge and experiences of other groups and organisations.
‘‘The together program will connect these groups to local organisations in their area allowing them to collaborate and share information and resources. It will also provide training, education and support for the facilitator and provide limited funding to cover some of the group’s running costs.’’
Katrakis said there was a significant number of carer support groups for carers of
people with disabilities in NSW and thousands of carers could benefit from the program.
‘‘The together program will support a network of up to 200 carer support groups for carers of people with disabilities across NSW,” Katrakis said.
“When you consider there are several carers in each group, it’s exciting to think of how many carers will benefit from this program.’’
The Together Program is part of the NSW Government’s Stronger Together 2 initiative and is funded by the NSW Department of Family and Community Services, Ageing, Disability and Home Care.
Carer support groups for carers of people with disabilities, disability organisations, local councils, Government departments and Not for Profit organisations across the southern, western and far western areas of NSW can find out more here or phone 02 9280 4744.
