We know how important carers are, not only to the people they care for – the people whose lives they improve on a daily basis – but to the whole community.
Carers provide unpaid care and support to their partners, family and friends with care needs, including people with a disability, mental illness, terminal illness, chronic illness and older people.
Unpaid carers provide emotional, physical and practical support, from a few hours a day to round the clock. The care role can be highly rewarding, but it can also be difficult and tiring.
And they are as diverse as the people they support and care for.
We provide a wide range of supports, programs and services for Victoria’s carers in partnership with the sector. These services align with the Recognising and supporting Victoria’s carers: Victorian carer strategy 2018-22.
We offer the following programs to support Victoria’s unpaid carers.
- The Support for Carers Program provides respite and support for unpaid carers of all backgrounds and ages.
- The Victorian Carer Card provides a range of benefits for carers, including transport concessions.
- A range of grants and initiatives promote the health, wellbeing and increased supports and opportunities for unpaid carers, including support for employment and education.
We work closely with carer peak bodies and organisations, and with the Victorian Carer Advisory Group, which comprises carers and representatives from carer support organisations. The needs and voices of carers are strongly reflected in the development and delivery of our carer support programs and initiatives.