Important Updates from Carers NZ
Payment for Carers Update
As many of you will be aware, the Government is considering payment options for family carers who support disabled adult
children. This is in response to successive court decisions finding that to not pay family carers the same as formal
workers for the same work is discriminatory. We are unsure of when any official payment announcement will be made, but
we will keep you informed of progress.
We Care Campaign: Add Your Voice To Ours!
With the payment decision imminent, and the start of a fresh new year, now would be a good time for you to visit the We
Care! website www.wecare.org.nz We encourage individuals and organisations to take a few moments and send an email to the Prime Minister, John Key
(click on ‘Email John Key’), or you could have your say visually by creating a simple, powerful photo message (click on ‘Photo messages’), adding your voice to ours to call for genuine support, recognition, and good decision-making for carers. Every voice
counts so please make sure yours is heard!
New Zealand Rare Disease Day
Supporting the Rare Gems™ in our community, NZORD, the NZ Organisation for Rare Disorders, has gone in to bat for small
groups supporting those with very rare conditions for Rare Disease Day on Thursday 28th February. The Rare Gems™ theme
recognises the exceptional occurrence of so many different rare diseases, which affect one in many thousands to one in a
million in some cases. NZORD is promoting Rare Disease Day as an opportunity for small support groups to raise awareness
and fundraise for their own organisations, using resources provided by NZORD through its dedicated website www.rarediseaseday.org.nz Rare diseases may be individually rare, but as there are about 7000 of them they are collectively common, affecting
about 8% of the whole population. Visit the Rare Disease Day website where there are posters to download, ideas for
events, "how to" guides and more, all designed to make it simple for the smallest group or individual patients or
families to get involved.
Free carer infopacks
Carers NZ’s infopacks have proved to be a popular resource for both carers and support organisations. Each pack contains
a copy of the Government Guide for Carers, the latest issue of Family Care, plus a range of other helpful information we think all carers should know about. Our infopacks are useful for all
carers, regardless of the age and health condition of the person/s they are supporting. Individual packs are available
free of charge. For organisations that request multiple packs we ask for a koha/donation to help defray our courier
costs. Email Sara Rogers sara@carers.net.nz or phone the National Resource Centre 0800 777 797 during office hours to order your packs.
A Guide for Carers
This free, helpful booklet is available as its own standalone resource and offers information about the various types
of publicly funded support available to family carers in NZ. You can find out about needs assessments, respite, Carer
Support Subsidy, available financial support, how to access assistance with continence needs, transport, or housing, and
much more. We encourage other not for profits and support organisations to request multiple copies of the Guide (they come in boxes of 50) and make them available to families in their networks. There are no costs involved to
receive either an individual copy, or multiple copies. Please contact Sara Rogers (via the contact details above) to
find out more, or to request your booklets.
Family Care NZ – Autumn Issue
We’re currently working on our Autumn issue which will be delivered to individuals and organisations in mid March.
Features this time will include advice if you’re downsizing or moving to a retirement village; Louise Inglis’s in-depth
article about toilet training children who have autism (based on her own experiences with her son, Kevin); injury
prevention teamwork with your support workers; and a rural health special report in our Support At Home section. To request a free trial copy of the magazine phone the Carer Resource Centre 0800 777 797 during office hours,
or send an email to sara@carers.net.nz
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State of Caregiving Research Study
We ask family carers to make time to participate in New Zealand's first longitudinal (over time) study about how caring
affects New Zealanders providing ongoing support for an ill, disabled, or frail friend or family member. We have
partnered with The University of Auckland (Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences) to give carers a stronger voice and
greater visibility through The State of Caregiving Study. Please click here to complete the online survey, which will be repeated annually for three years. We have also attached a PDF one page
letter (see below) from Tracey-Lee Dalton, the researcher who is leading the study. We hope that hundreds of carers will
take part in this research! StateOfCaregivingStudy.pdf(325.89 KB)
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Help Improve the Welfare System for Disabled People/People with Health Conditions
The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) is talking to stakeholders about how, from July 2013, they can work differently
with disabled people and people with health conditions, and help those who can work into work. MSD is inviting anyone
with an interest to give their views on how the welfare system needs to change. Several public meetings and workshops
have been held; if you missed those, you can still have your say by giving feedback in an online survey at www.msd.govt.nz/healthanddisability before Friday, February 8, 2013.
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Nationwide Events and Expos
Show Your Ability Expos Held in five regions from February 19th onwards, Show Your Ability is New Zealand’s premier annual equipment show. Each
event will showcase all kinds of services and useful things for anyone who has extra needs. Carers NZ is pleased to
promote these Expos, and will have a supply of its own resources located near the sign-in desk at each location. Click
on the PDF icon to find out more. Show Your Ability 2013.pdf(1,232.61 KB)
The Big Event Disability and Ageing Expo This annual two day event is being held at the ASB Auckland Showgrounds, Greenlane, on Friday 5th and Saturday 6th
April. Carers NZ will again be present at the event with its own display stand, along with many other exhibitors
showcasing information and equipment of interest to those with health and disability needs. You can learn more about the
event at www.thebigevent.org.nz We look forward to seeing you there!
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Alzheimers NZ National Dementia Awareness Campaign
Help us raise awareness about dementia! The second phase of the We Can Help Campaign will run from February to June with
TV and magazine advertising. There are many ways you can support the campaign, for example, by placing posters in your
facilities, and signing the petition. Campaign resources can be downloaded from the ‘wecanhelp’ website www.wecanhelp.org.nz
CARERS.NET.NZ One in five New Zealanders support someone who is frail, aged, sick, injured, disabled, or experiencing a mental
illness.
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