More funding available to support carers in community

PARLIAMENTARY Secretary for Carers and Volunteers, Anthony Carbines, visited Wangaratta's Open Door Neighbourhood House (ODNH) recently to announce a second round of the Supporting Carers Locally Grants Program. The $572,000 program offers grants of $20,000 to $40,000 for local community organisations to increase opportunities for carers to be physically and mentally healthy and boost social connectivity for carers. ODNH received $17,000 in the first round of the program, which executive officer Loretta Waters said was of great benefit throughout COVID. "The grant has allowed us to do program development where gaps have been identified and address those gaps, which has been really invaluable," Ms Waters said. "There's always a strong demand (on carers) and through the pandemic that's been particularly highlighted because of the isolation aspect of it. "We've seen a lot of carers and other interested parties that have come to use the food support on behalf of their family members and neighbours. "We do find quite a lot of carers join in our mosaics and other health and wellbeing programs." Mr Carbines visited ODNH last month to see how the first round of the grants had progressed, and said the funding supported carers in the vital role they play for the community. “We know it’s hard to maintain your own physical and mental health when you’re dedicating so much or yourself caring for others – that’s why we are helping local organisations support our carers," he said. Unpaid carers support people with different care needs including people with chronic disease, mental illness, people with a disability, older people with care needs and those receiving end-of-life or palliative care. The recent Mental Health Royal Commission final report identified the importance of supporting the mental health of carers as a key focus. The grants program is part of a nearly $50 million government investment for extra respite, transport concessions and grants for local carer groups. Applications for the second round close on Saturday, April 24. For more information visit vic.gov.au/dffh/supporting-carers-locally-grants-program-2021-22-round-2.

More funding available to support carers in community

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