| 58 King William Road, Goodwood, South Australia 5034 Telephone (08) 8271 6288 Fax (08) 8271 6388 Toll Free 1800 815 549 |
Mental Health Carers |
Carers SA is the Peak organisation representing all Carers in South Australia, our mission at Carers SA’s is to promote, assist, empower and enhance the lives of family Carers; we achieve our mission through playing a key role to promote and empower all Carers as a representative body and through the provision of a range of services that we believe will assist and enhance the lives of all Carers. Carers SA initiates research, develops policy and advocates at all levels of government on behalf of all Carers. |
Carer Representation Carers SA was established in 1989 by a grass roots movement of Carers; Carer representation and participation forms the basis for our organisational direction, service provision, project direction, development and delivery. Carers of a person(s) with a mental illness are involved in many aspects of Carers SA’s service delivery. We believe that as the peak Carer organisation representing the needs of Carers it is vital that we utilise the skills, expertise and experiences of Carers to ensure that we achieve our mission. Carers actively involved in Carers SA participate in many ways to promote assist and empower the lives of other carers in conjunction with Carers SA. Carers SA’s board members are Carers, Carers SA appoint Carer Ambassadors some of whom represent Carers of a person with a mental illness and Carers participate and offer assistance to Carers SA as volunteers. When funding is allocated to assist specific groups of Carers, Carers SA establishes Carer Reference Groups to consult around project directions, participate in ongoing evaluation and consultation around outcomes and future recommendations. Carer’s participate in forums in varying capacities; facilitation, making presentations, sharing their Carer Story, assisting with registration. |
History Since 1994 Carers SA has been directly involved in a range of initiatives including advocating for improved services for Carers of people with a mental illness. In 1996 the Mental Health Carers Task group was established to lobby all levels of government advocating for Carers rights; sponsored by Carers SA the group is chaired by the Chief Executive Officer of Carers SA. Meeting regularly the group is made up of Carers from government and non government, service providers and advisory groups. (Link to mental health carers task group fact sheet Dec 2006 available soon) In May of 2005 there was a “one off” contribution of $25m from the State Government to support mental health service reforms. Carers SA was allocated funds to assist Carers in the area of respite for Carers; providing Carers with a break and improved quality of life and Carer Support to provide an increase in assistance to Carers through the provisions of information and advocacy that fulfils our aim to empower, promote, improve and increase recognition of Carers caring for a person with a mental illness. |
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Carers SA Mental Health projects Young Carers Mental Health School Liaison Project aims (Available soon) Mental Health Education and Training Project (available soon) Carer
Community Liaison (available soom)
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Services Mental Health Forums for Carers Carers SA is running forums for Carers of a person with a mental illness (link forum dates). Forums are specifically designed to assist Carers through the provision of education and information in a supportive environment. (Link to forum date news page) Assisting Relatives and Friends of the Mentally Ill (ARAFMI) Support Group A support group available to Carers of a person with a mental illness meets on a monthly basis at Carers SA, Goodwood. Support Group Dates Respite for Carers Carers SA has currently offering carers of a person with a mental illness in the South and East country region the opportunity to “take a break” from their caring role for information. Young Carers Retreat Carers SA holds an annual 3 day retreat for
young Carers to assist them to ‘take a break’ from their caring
role. To be eligible to attend the retreat young Carers must
be between the ages of 11-16 years, young Carers attending the
retreat do not need to be classified as the primary Carer to be
eligible to attend and priority is given to rural young Carers. Young Carers in Education Carers SA offers young Carers in education presentations
to education professionals throughout schools and networks in
South Australia. Carer Consultants Carers SA performs an ongoing mentoring role to the Carer Consultants who all have personal experience of caring for someone with mental health issues. The Carer Consultants’ aim to promote family recovery and are specifically trained and employed to offer support and information to family and friends of people experiencing mental health issues; ask for them if the person you care for is on their ward. Mental Health Family Carers and Service Providers News Carers SA produces ‘Mental Health and Family Carers Service Providers News’, this Newssheet is available to Carers and Service Providers who wish to have up to date information about what is happening in the sector for Carers caring for a person with a mental illness. To access the most recent newsletter, click here If you would like to subscribe (Carers SA contact details). National Carer Counselling and Advisory Service (NCCAS) The NCCAS offers short-term counselling delivered
by qualified, professional counsellors operating within legal
and ethical responsibilities. Regional Carer Support
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Links and Resources National: Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia (MIFA) www.mifa.org.au Beyond Blue www.BeyondBlue.org.au SANE www.sane.org.au Mental Health Council of Australia www.MHCA.org.au ARAFMI National www.arafmiaustralia.asn.au State: The University of Adelaide Library Directory of Mental Health Services (South Australia) www.adelaide.edu.au/library/guide/med/menthealth/mentadd.html
Mental Health Resource Centre (address and phone details required – nil info on web page) 1 Richmond Rd, Keswick, PO Box 310 Marleston SA 5033 ph 08 8221 5160 or fax 08 8221 5159 Grow www.grow.net.au Legal Services SA www.lsc.sa.gov.au Mental
Health Coalition www.mhcsa.org.au
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History The Association of Relatives and Friends of the Mentally Ill South Australia was established in 1978 by the social work department at Glenside Hospital who identified the need for a service to specifically address the needs of Carers of people with a mental illness. In late 2006 the Board and members of ARAFMI announced its decision to wind up the organisation and transfer its services to Carers SA. The Carers SA Assisting Relatives and Friends of the Mentally Ill service continues to provide support to Carers of a person with mental illness. Services – Support Group, Retreat – link to forum info
Links & Resources National: Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia (MIFA) www.mifa.org.au Beyond Blue www.BeyondBlue.org.au SANE www.sane.org.au Mental Health Council of Australia www.MHCA.org.au Mental Health Coalition www.mhcsa.org.au State: The University of Adelaide Library Directory of Mental Health Services (South Australia) www.adelaide.edu.au/library/guide/med/menthealth/mentadd.html ARAFMI National www.arafmiaustralia.asn.au Mental Health Resource Centre (address and phone details required – nil info on web page) 1 Richmond Rd, Keswick, PO Box 310 Marleston SA 5033 ph 08 8221 5160 or fax 08 8221 5159 Grow www.grow.net.au Legal Services SA www.lsc.sa.gov.au
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Association South Australia Inc. Site created by Pasquale
Portaro Graphic Design Disclaimer You may reproduce elements off this website with suitable acknowledgement. The information contained on this site is provided for the purpose of disseminating information about the functions and activities of the Carers Association of SA Inc. To the extent permitted by law, the Carers Association shall not be liable in relation to any loss or damage incurred by the use/or reliance upon information contained on this site. Mention made of any service or product on this site is for information and does not constitute a recommendation either implied or expressed by the Carers Association of SA Inc.
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