Carer Recognition Act 2023
On 20 April 2023, the Carer Recognition Act 2023 (Tas) was enacted. This Act formally recognises the significant contributions that unpaid carers in Tasmania provide to their family and friends who need support. It contains a Carers Charter which sets out obligations for Tasmanian Government agencies to monitor and report on the Carers Charter and implementation of the Carers Action Plan.
To increase awareness and understanding of the Tasmanian Carer Recognition Act, Carers Tasmania delivered information and feedback sessions to carers across the State during 2023/24. These sessions aimed to inform and empower carers with information about the Act and the Charter within. The sessions also provided additional opportunities to hear about any other experiences carers wanted to share, which helped to inform our systemic advocacy.
In addition, Carers Tasmania promoted the Tasmanian Carer Recognition Act and Carers Charter at expos, community events, service provider meetings and newsletters, and within health and education settings.
On 20 April 2023, the Carer Recognition Act 2023 (Tas) was enacted. This Act formally recognises the significant contributions that unpaid carers in Tasmania provide to their family and friends who need support. It contains a Carers Charter which sets out obligations for Tasmanian Government agencies to monitor and report on the Carers Charter and implementation of the Carers Action Plan.
To increase awareness and understanding of the Tasmanian Carer Recognition Act, Carers Tasmania delivered information and feedback sessions to carers across the State during 2023/24. These sessions aimed to inform and empower carers with information about the Act and the Charter within. The sessions also provided additional opportunities to hear about any other experiences carers wanted to share, which helped to inform our systemic advocacy.
In addition, Carers Tasmania promoted the Tasmanian Carer Recognition Act and Carers Charter at expos, community events, service provider meetings and newsletters, and within health and education settings.
Carers Tasmania developed several resources to assist with this promotion, including a flyer and a short explainer YouTube video.
First Nations Charter
During 2023/24, Carers Tasmania worked closely with Tasmanian Aboriginal woman, Helen Ransom of Sky Sea Country Consulting, to develop a First Nations Charter, which includes the following vision:
“A Tasmania and an organisation that values, respects, and supports the vital contribution that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers and people make to their family, friends and communities. A Tasmania and an organisation that recognises the ongoing impact of historical, cultural and social legacies on Aboriginal people.”
The Charter sets out guiding principles and organisational commitments in terms of carers, employees, partnerships and community, and governance. Attached to the Charter is the Action Plan, which identifies prioritised actions for completion in the coming years. Tasmanian Aboriginal artist, Bianca Templar, designed the cover art for the Charter.
We consulted widely on the First Nations Charter, writing to registered organisations on the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations, as well as stakeholders and individuals. The feedback received on the Charter was overwhelmingly positive, with people believing the Charter is a demonstration of our organisation’s commitment to valuing, respecting and supporting First Nations people and creating an inclusive organisation.
Disability Access and Inclusion Plan
During 2023/24, Carers Tasmania worked closely with Dr Lucy Mercer-Mapstone of Collective Voices Consulting.
Lucy gathered input from over 250 Tasmanian carers and Carers Tasmania / Care2Serve staff to review our current level of disability inclusion, and gain insight and feedback on how we can become more inclusive of, and accessible for, Tasmanians with disability both within and outside our organisation.
The Disability Access and Inclusion Plan sets out core values and key objectives for carers and staff aligned with those values which will guide our work in the coming five years.
Providing a Voice for Tasmanian Carers – Submissions and Consultation
Carers Tasmania provides a voice for Tasmanian carers, engaging with carers about significant issues government reforms and programs and providing advice back to both the Tasmanian and Australian Governments.
In 2023/24, Carers Tasmania provided the following written submissions:
- Carers Tasmania Feedback on the draft National Autism Strategy
- Response to the Aged Care Bill 2023 Exposure Draft
- Carers Tasmania’s Response to the Draft Registration to Work with Vulnerable People Regulations Order 2023
- Carers Tasmania’s submission on the: Becoming an Adult – the experience of young Tasmanians today
- Carers Tasmania’s Response to the Youth Job Strategy Discussion Paper
- Carers Tasmania’s Submission on the Commonwealth Government COVID-19 Response Inquiry
- A Stronger, more diverse, and independent community sector
- Carers Tasmania’s Response to the Co-design of the New Mental Health Lived Experience Family, Carer and Kin Peak Body
- Carers Tasmania’s response to the National Autism Strategy
- Carers Tasmania’s Feedback on the draft Disability Inclusion Bill 2023 (Tas)
- Response to the Sustainability Paper Tasmania
- Carers Tasmania submission on the National Inquiry into Carer Recognition 2023
- Carers Tasmania submission to the 2022-23 NDIS Review
- Carers Tasmania Feedback on the draft National Autism Strategy
- Response to the Aged Care Bill 2023 Exposure Draft
- Carers Tasmania’s Response to the Draft Registration to Work with Vulnerable People Regulations Order 2023
- Carers Tasmania’s submission on the: Becoming an Adult – the experience of young Tasmanians today
- Carers Tasmania’s Response to the Youth Job Strategy Discussion Paper
- Carers Tasmania’s Submission on the Commonwealth Government COVID-19 Response Inquiry
- A Stronger, more diverse, and independent community sector
- Carers Tasmania’s Response to the Co-design of the New Mental Health Lived Experience Family, Carer and Kin Peak Body
- Carers Tasmania’s response to the National Autism Strategy
- Carers Tasmania’s Feedback on the draft Disability Inclusion Bill 2023 (Tas)
- Response to the Sustainability Paper Tasmania
- Carers Tasmania submission on the National Inquiry into Carer Recognition 2023
- Carers Tasmania submission to the 2022-23 NDIS Review
Carers Tasmania also conducted consultation to understand the experiences and needs of informal kinship carers in Tasmania. Informal kinship carers were engaged in various ways throughout this consultation and a report was developed for the Tasmanian Government.
Carers Tasmania’s submissions and consultation reports can be found at Publications & Submissions – Carers Tasmania. As a member of the Carers Australia Network, Carers Tasmania also provided input into many national submissions. The Carers Australia Network submissions can be found here: carersaustralia.com.au/submissions-reports/submissions/
Carers Tasmania also advocates for carers through participating in various government and community working groups, sector meetings and communities of practice.
We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land and waters upon which we work, live and sustain ourselves. This land was never ceded, and we acknowledge that the Tasmanian Aboriginal people are its continuing custodians. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.
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