National Carers Week runs from October 10 - 16 and is dedicated to the recognition and celebration of Australia’s 2.65 million family and friend carers.
The theme for National Carers Week 2021 is Millions of Reasons to Care!
To celebrate carers and recognise the significant contribution carers make each and every day, Carers NSW is hosting a range of online events during National Carers Week.
Carers from across NSW are invited to join a range of free online webinars, as well as self-care and wellbeing workshops for carers during National Carers Week 2021.
You can choose to join online events including dance, stretch therapy, yoga, music and art. As well as find out more about planning for your financial future, Carer rights and building resilient brains. There will also be a Young Carer Hangout (16-25 years) and carer skills workshops.
For more information on National Carers Week, click here.
To download a calendar of the Carers NSW events, click here.
Millions of Reasons to Care!
Support for Carers
Carer Gateway
If you care for a family member or friend, then Carer Gateway could help you. Carer Gateway provides practical advice and support for carers as well as:
- Helping you to get the services and support you need
- Free counselling services over the phone
- Self-guided free coaching to help you in your carer role
Carer Gateway is an Australian Government initiative and can also provide information on respite, financial supports and planning for an emergency. Find out more here.
CarerHelp
A new website to support people in Australia who are caring for a partner, relative or friend living with a life limiting illness. CarerHelp features:
- Evidence based and practical information about symptoms of carer burnout
- How to get help on financial/legal issues
- Downloadable forms, tools and online learning modules for carers
CarerHelp has been developed as part of the Australian Family Carer Toolkit Project and it aims to ensure that Carers are more informed and better prepared for their role. The idea is that by providing carers with appropriate information and support, they will feel less distressed and more competent, improving their overall well-being. Find out more here.
MND Carer Support
Natalie Caruana, our Carer Support Program Coordinator, facilitates support groups for carers. These carer groups meet online monthly to share their experiences of caring. To find out more and upcoming dates, please see our events page here or contact Natalie:
Self-care
While caring for a loved one with MND can be very rewarding, it also involves many stressors. It can be difficult for carers to find time for themselves and since caregiving can be an ongoing challenge, the emotional impact can snowball over time. This can lead to carer burnout, when you are feeling emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausted. When you reach this point of exhaustion, both you and the person you’re caring for can suffer. That’s why taking care of yourself isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity.
Respite
‘Respite’ means taking a break. When you are a carer, it’s important to regularly take time for yourself to rest and recharge. If you need a break, respite care services can look after the person you care for. It's a good idea to find out more about respite services so you can plan breaks, and so you know what to do to get respite care in an emergency. Respite | Carer Gateway
Self-care starter kit
The UK based Blurt Foundation provide resources and tools to help people manage anxiety and depression. As a carer however, you may also find some of these resources helpful, particularly for self-care. This is a free kit to help you get your self-care mojo back and includes:
- What is self-care? And why is it so important?
- 5 instant self-care things which can be done from your bed
- Self-care alphabet – breaking it down into teensy tiny bites
- Looking after yourself on a budget
- Caring for yourself from the inside out
- Self-care worksheet – to help you discover what self-care looks like for YOU
View the PDF here: Free-Self-Care-Starter-Kit.pdf (blurtitout.org)
The Self Care Project - printable worksheets
Free PDF of printable worksheets that you can print and follow as part of your self-care. 32 pages of different activities and resources to help you think about what’s important to you and how you can make time for yourself. These could also be used with younger carers.
Print here: The-Self-Care-Project-worksheets.pdf (blurtitout.org)
October is also Mental Health Awareness month and WayAhead have produced a calendar of ideas for how you can tune into your own mental health for each day of the month. See the calendar here: Tune In.