VICDOC Winter 2022 - Magazine - Page 85
Gateway is an Australian
C arer
Government program that provides
free services and support for the
2.65 million unpaid carers in Australia —
750,000 of whom live in Victoria.
These are the unpaid family members
and friends who loyally and lovingly support
people with disability, illness, age or mental
health issues.
Merri Health is the lead service provider
for Carer Gateway in Victoria, supported by
six other service providers across the state.
These include Alfred Health, Barwon Health,
Bendigo Health, FamilyCare, Grampians
Health Ballarat and Uniting VicTas.
CARERS NEED CARE TOO
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It may seem surprising, but a lot of carers
don’t think of themselves as a carer. They
consider themselves a daughter, mother,
partner, sister, father or friend simply doing
what’s expected of them, regardless of the
emotional, physical or financial stress it puts
them under. That’s why they often don’t
seek help, and can end up physically and
emotionally drained.
WHY YOU’LL OFTEN COME ACROSS CARERS
We can also help them apply for
carer payments or equipment from the
Government, show them how to move
people safely without injuring themselves,
and educate them about what legal
responsibilities they may need to consider.
Plus, we have a carer engagement
team readily available to provide further
information and advice, or organise a session
at your premises to help connect your clients
with Carer Gateway. Simply contact them at
cgce.team@merrihealth.org.au
REFERRING IS EASY
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If you are a service provider and would like
to refer a carer who lives in Victoria, simply
visit ereferral.carergatewayvictoria.org.au
and we’ll take care of the rest.
If a carer is in need of emergency respite,
please call 1800 422 737 to speak to a Carer
Response Officer. Sometimes, just having a
day off to themselves, catch up with their
own life-admin or visit a friend is all they
need to reset.
HELPING MORE CARERS
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One of the key responsibilities of being
a carer is accompanying the person in
their care to healthcare and medical
appointments. Carers may meet with and
seek the advice of clinicians, doctors, allied
health professionals and other healthcare
professionals as part of their caring role.
If you have a lot of carers visiting your
practice, it may be beneficial to have some
Carer Gateway posters, brochures and
information sheets on hand to help them.
These are provided free-of-charge to assist
organisations and individuals like you.
You can order them online at publications.
carergateway.gov.au publications or
call 1800 050 009 (during work hours).
HOW CARER GATEWAY CAN HELP
FREE CARERS MAGAZINE
If any of your patients/clients are carers
and are feeling overwhelmed and in need
of some support, Carer Gateway was
created purely to help them. We offer
free emergency respite, group support,
counselling, tailored support packages,
coaching and online skills courses.
The Caring Way is a free magazine for carers
to learn about other carer’s experiences,
how they manage, supports that are helpful,
and how best to navigate carer services. Feel
free to also share this with your networks
so more carers can get the help they
need: https://bit.ly/426KgPH Or for free
hard copies, please email cgmarketing@
merrihealth.org.au
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