New Monthly Programme for Family Carers

New Monthly Programme for Family Carers

http://familycareradio.net.nz !

Carers NZ is pleased to announce the launch of Family Care Radio, a one hour internet radio show for families with health and disability needs.

Family Care Radio's hosts are Pip Fowler, Margie Wheeler, and senior journalist and broadcaster Todd Niall ... all past or current carers.

The magazine-style radio show is the first of its kind in the world, offering interviews with carers, medical experts, political decision-makers, and others with an interest in caregiving.

Family Care Radio was made possible with funding from the Government's Digital Strategy Community Partnerships Fund.  Carers NZ has been able to secure other funding to ensure the monthly show is viable ongoing.

The inaugural programme can be accessed by going to  http://familycareradio.net.nz  

Interviews in the first Family Care Radio Show:

Tina Cross reminisces about travelling north with her family as a child to care for her grandfather, who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness.  "What we didn't know at the time is that Mum, who was his primary carer, was herself very unwell, and nearly died."

A special report about the Government's recently launched Carers' Strategy.  Interviews include the Minister for Social Development and Employment, Ruth Dyson; Carers Alliance chair John Forman; carers who attended the Strategy launch at Parliament; and Baroness Jill Pitkeathley, Carers NZ's mentor, who in 2004 urged the non-profit to establish a Carers' Alliance to create a unified voice to lobby for a Carers' Strategy ... with speedy results!

Our first 'five minute' features:  ActiveWellness, with tips and advice from ACC about how to prevent injuries and stay well; and Anna Filliol's Melt meditation, one of a library of meditations designed for carers by Anna which will be available at the Family Care Radio website 24/7.
Our September programme will be live later this month, featuring interviews with political leaders for Carers NZ's We Care We Vote! election special. 

Other interviews will include Iain Gordon, the keyboard player with well-known group Fat Freddy's Drop, who composed the Family Care Radio theme music ... and new five minute features about physical wellness with Wayne Halkyard, managing continence at home with the NZ Continence Association, preventing common carer injuries with ACC, and St John's advice about how to manage common health emergencies at home.

In October, tune in for our interviews with Dame Kate Harcourt and Dame Fiona Kidman, who both supported elderly parents as younger women.  And lots more!

You can listen to the whole Family Care Radio programme each month at http://familycareradio.net.nz .. or the segments that most interest you.  You can also download the programme to your MP3 device, so you can listen to Family Care Radio anywhere!

Carers NZ thanks the Community Partnerships Fund, Iain Gordon and his musicians (including his sister Jane!), and especially Pip Fowler, Margie Wheeler, and Todd Niall.

Our We Care We Vote! election special will be live in late September.  Discover what the leaders of political parties currently represented in Parliament will do to recognise and support family carers if they are part of the government after the upcoming election.

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