National Carers Week kicks off across the country this week, celebrating and acknowledging the meaningful work of those who provide care to loved ones.
The occasion is a timely reminder of the importance of ongoing support for the wellbeing of carers, who spend much of their time focusing on others.
Regular check-ins, voicing appreciation, and recommending a peer support group are just some ways family and friends can offer support to carers.
A Lotterywest grant of up to $324,500 for ConnectGroups, a peak body for peer support groups, is helping carers across Western Australia.
Acting Lotterywest and Healthway CEO Jeremy Hubble said the grant supports ConnectGroups’ Give it Forward program, which funds peer support groups throughout the State.
“This valuable program targeting mental health early intervention and prevention, has enabled 45 peer support groups to receive 56 Give it Forward grants during the 18-month program period,” Mr Hubble said.
ConnectGroups CEO Dr Vicky Vass said the organisation is celebrating its 40th year of supporting groups to help each other.
“The positive psychological impact of being with others who are facing the same situation is immeasurable,” Dr Vass said.
“We’re immensely grateful and proud to have received a grant from Lotterywest, and we’ve seen that the Give it Forward program really does have a major impact.
“I think the most important thing is that it empowers our groups to grow and develop by themselves and be self-sustaining.”
A beneficiary of the Give it Forward program is iDareDream, a Perth-based volunteer-run group supporting grandparents who are the primary carers to their grandchildren.
“These grandparents often went from thinking about retirement, to changing their plans and providing primary care to their grandchildren, for many different reasons,” Dr Vass explained.
“The funding was particularly important during COVID-19 because it enabled the group to have a premium Zoom subscription, helping them continue to support each other and their grandchildren throughout the pandemic.”
During the time of the grant support, iDareDream supported 58 families with 99 grandchildren, aged from two to 19 years old.
Carers who need may need support can find a peer group using ConnectGroups’ website directory, or contact Carers WA at www.carerswa.asn.au.
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17 October 2023