General News
26 April, 2022
Grampians Community Health funding brings relief to carers
A carer funding program supports carers allowing them and their recipients to a take some time off.
CARERS in the Northern Grampians community can now receive some well-deserved down time with their recipient with access to a carers support program.
The Support for Carers Program, provided through Grampians Community Health, is offering carers and their recipients access to a wide range of events, items, and supports including a massage, a trip to the cinema, and a weekend away.
Grampians Community Health manager of community and in-home assistance Karen Watson said she wanted to remind carers that local help is available.
“The idea was to let people know that we still do have carer funding. I’m not sure why, but since the COVID-19 pandemic has occurred, carers have seemed to go very quiet,” she said.
“We used to have Commonwealth and state funding, but once the gateway opened, everyone lost the Commonwealth funding to the gateway.
“There must be carers out there that need that time out.”
Ms Watson became a carer herself once her husband Stan began his battle with Motor Neuron Disease six years ago and said it was important that carers also look after themselves.
“The focus is about supporting the carer and what will make a difference for them,” she said.
“It could be attending church, fuel vouchers to get to appointments, a massage, or time to play some mini golf.
“This assistance is available until the end of the financial year and can be used by carers of elderly people, people living with disability, people with mental health issues, and young school-aged carers who can be assisted to stay engaged with their studies.
“Sometimes what seems usual in one person’s life can make a huge difference in the life of a carer.”
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The funding supports carers in Northern Grampians, Ararat Rural City and Pyrenees areas.
The program has been a significant benefit to Great Western resident and full-time carer Josef Neumann who looks after his wife Elizabeth.
Ever since Elizabeth had suffered a stroke that had left her wheelchair bound, Mr Neumann said he couldn’t thank the healthcare workers at Grampians Community Health enough for being there for them.
“When we retired, my wife and I had all these plans we were going to set out to do. But when the stroke happened everything fell back on one person,” he said.
“A normal day will consist of helping my wife get up, go to the toilet … dressing her, getting breakfast ready for us and so forth … It takes a tremendous amount of energy.
“With the Support for Carers Program we have carers come around on Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning. They give Liz a shower … Every second Monday someone will help clean.
“It lets me do extra jobs outside … You couldn’t ask for better people in Grampians Community Health. They’ve been fantastic all the way.”
The GCH funding and additional respite funding can also be used by support group members, those with anxiety or those who access mental health support programs.
The mental health respite program includes the Horsham region. For this particular mental health funding, people don’t have to have a mental health diagnosis.
Ms Watson said applicants can, but don’t have to go through the Carer Gateway to register.
“All you need to do to access this carer respite funding is contact GCH and you will be connected with the intake worker,” Ms Watson said.