Support for Parents and Carers

Informal

• Both parents & non-custodial parents must work together to provide discipline, emotional & financial support.

• Adolescents often take on responsibility for younger siblings – cooking, transport.

• Grandparents assist with child care, instilling family culture and traditions while also sometimes providing financial and respite support.

• In 2012, 26% of Aus children under 12 received regular care from a grandparent (ABS)

• All this support from family members allows the parent to have a regular break from parenting & the chance to refresh and regain energy.

• Friends are called upon for informal care – often when they have a child of a similar age to the dependant being looked after.

• Can also be called upon to support the parent emotionally in preparation for their role or changing roles over time.

• A friend of a carer may be asked to care for a dependant while the carer does everyday tasks such as shopping/to participate in recreational activities.

• Usually trusted individuals with the convenience of close proximity.

• E.g.: A carer may ask a neighbour to help transport specialised equipment into the house for the dependant to use.

• E.g.: A parent may ask a neighbour to pick their children up from school if its local/their kids go there.

• Neighbours may also offer valuable advice or emotional support for parents/carers.

How does informal support assist parents and carers to:

Prepare for their roles:

• Relatives, friends and neighbours regularly offer advice and emotional support as parents and carers prepare for parenting or caring.

• Informal support aids in enhancing knowledge in order to satisfy specific needs, promote wellbeing and build positive relationships.

Fulfil their responsibilities:

• Discipline and Setting Limits - Relatives Such as older siblings and grandparents often provide discipline when the dependant is in their care. This helps parents to reinforce the boundaries and limits set at home.

• Duty of Care - Relatives, Friends and Neighbours aid in being custodians whilst the dependant is in their care. this ensures the child if safe and therefore assists parents in this way.

Maintain their own wellbeing:

• Physical - Informal support networks allow for parents and carers to take time out to exercise or maintain physical health.

• Social and Emotional - Informal support enables parents and carers to take time away from their family in order to participate in social gatherings which in turn impacts emotional wellbeing as well. Emotional support is also provided by informal networks.

• Economical - Babysitting provided by family or friends allow parents/cares to work part time and therefore earn a wage to provide for their family.

Formal

NSW Department of Family and Community Services (FACS):

• • Assistance to people adopting/fostering children

  • Offers support groups for abusive relationship victims

  • Assist children at risk of physical/sexual abuse/neglect

Centrelink:

• • Provides information and payments for parents/carers

  • Financial support – e.g. Parental Leave Pay, Child Support, Child Care Rebate, Carer Allowance, Child Disability Assistance

• Examples of community organisations include Vinnies, Salvation Army, Mission Australia, Smith Family, Red Cross.

• Some are partially funded by the Government. Their role is to:

  • Assist parents/carers to meet primary needs (clothing, furniture, etc.)

  • Support low-income families experiencing high stress

  • Pay gas/electricity/water bills for low SES

  • Provide counselling, emotional/spiritual support & employment.

• Carers’ support groups provide specific care to people:

  • Carers Australia & Carers NSW – provide practical, legal & emotional support to carers

  • Down Syndrome Association – supporting carers of those with DS

  • Meals on Wheels – assist carers to complete caring tasks

How does formal support assist parents and carers to:

Prepare for their roles:

• Community organisations provide emotional support as parents and carers prepare for parenting or caring.

• Formal Support aids in enhancing knowledge in order to satisfy specific needs, promote wellbeing and build positive relationships.

Fulfil their responsibilities:

• Duty of Care - Formal support networks such as community organisations provide basic needs and resources for parents/carers to adequately provide duty of care to their dependants. Duty of care is also provided my community organisations such as daycare and respite care.

Maintain their own wellbeing:

• Physical - Community organisations allow for parents to be provided with necessary food and resources to maintain physical wellbeing.

• Social - Community organisations (day care or respite care) enable parents and carers to take time away from their family in order to participate in social gatherings which in turn impacts emotional wellbeing as well. Centrelink also offers a childcare rebate to help with the costs associated with daycare.

• Emotional - Community organisations provide counselling services for parents to maintain emotional wellbeing.

• Economical - Government agencies such as Centrelink provide payments (Parental Leave Pay and Carer Allowance) for parents and carers in order to adequately care for their family. As well as this, community organisations also provide utility (electricity, water etc) payments for eligible persons.

Explain how both formal and informal support can assist parents and carers to maintain their own wellbeing (6 marks)

Answer the question here - Support for Parents and Carers (instructure.com)

Healthcare

• Examples include obstetrician, midwife, nurse, dentists, podiatrists, etc.

• Medicare & private health funds/Rehab centres are also useful resources.

• This is imperative for families with children who have special needs – Royal Blind Society, Autistic Children’s Association are helpful in this regard.

• Early childhood health centres – monitor wellbeing, immunisations, screen for vision/hearing problems, assess milestones, etc.

• Health organisations and websites (Aus Dept. of heath) help to educate parents and carers in safety issues, nutrition, behaviour etc..

Education

• A range of services assist with knowledge/skills for parenting. Examples Include:

  • • Fostering NSW – practical support for new foster parents

    • Carers NSW – education & support for carers

    • Australian Breastfeeding Association

    • Australian Multiple Births Association – for new parents of twins, triplets, etc.

• These organisations provide specialised information from experts that ensure advice is tailored to individual needs.

• For new mothers experiencing post-natal depression. Counselling services will provide practical strategies to ensure both mother and child are safe.

Financial Support

1. The Government (‘Centrelink’):

   1. • Centrelink provide a Basics Card which allows people to buy essential goods and services at approved businesses. The card is designed to assist with managing income so that priority needs are met first.

      • Parental Leave Pay, Child Support, Child Care Rebate, Carer Allowance, Child Disability Assistance are all available through Centrelink

2. Welfare Agencies:

   1. • Assist parents/carers to meet primary needs (clothing, furniture, etc.)

      • Support low-income families experiencing high stress

      • Pay gas/electricity/water bills for low SES

      • Provide counselling, emotional/spiritual support & employment.

Childcare

• Examples include preschools, kindergartens, long day care, in-home care, out-of-school-hours care, etc.

• Essential for working parents, but expensive.

• Should not replace parent role, but allows child to grow, learn, socialise, explore, etc.

• Aus Gov. website ‘MyChild’ – resource for parents to gain info about a range of childcare services.

• Childcare rebate offered by Centrelink to help with the financial burden of childcare

Respite Care

• Respite care is defined as temporary care of an aged, ill or disabled person (institution).

• Designed to give carers a break from demands of daily routine

• ‘Home and Community Care Program’ – provides respite care

• ‘Commonwealth Respite’ & ‘Carelink Centres’ – provide info about services for aged, people w/ disabilities & those who provide care

• The demand for respite care is greater than what is available.

Counselling

• Examples include Parent line, National Carer Counselling Program, Beyond Blue etc..

• Counselling involves seeking help to overcome mental and emotional issues within the parent or carer. This may occur post-natal in a new parent, or in a carer who has been in the position for many years with no end in sight.

• May occur at a community health centre, in a private practise, through Skype, web counselling, or over the phone.

• If a dependant passes away, grief counselling can help a carer process the loss & adjust to their situation.

Assess the impact accessing formal support services can have on the wellbeing of:

Young carers:

• Financial Support - A young carer may not have the capacity to earn in income in order to adequately care for their dependant. As such, financial support is necessary in order for them to positively impact Economic wellbeing

• Respite Care - A young carer will need respite care in order to meet their own needs due to the demands of full-time caring. This will in turn impact Physical (meeting needs) and Emotional (time to rest and recharge) Wellbeing.

Aged carers:

• Financial Support - An aged carer may not have the capacity to earn in income due to retirement and in turn may not be able to finance the care needed for their dependant. As such, financial support is necessary in order for them to positively impact wellbeing (Economic)

• Respite Care - An Aged carer carer will need respite care in order to meet their own needs due to the demands of full-time caring. This will in turn impact Physical (meeting needs) and Emotional (time to rest and recharge) Wellbeing.

First-time parents:

• Education - A first time parent will need to access education services in order to enhance knowledge in order to adequately care for their dependant. This will impact Emotional wellbeing as they will feel supported and confident to care for their child.

• Counselling - A first time parent may need to access counselling services in order to overcome mental and emotional issues associated with being a first time parent (Post Natal depression). This will undoubtedly impact Emotional wellbeing.

• Healthcare - A first time parent may need to access healthcare services for thier child to undertsand milestones as well as enhance knowledge on how to recover from child birth in a healthy and sustainable manner. This will impact Physical wellbeing as they will undoubtedly enhance their physical health.

Working parents:

• Childcare - A working parent will need to access childcare services in order to be able to fulfil the duties of their employment. This will impact Economic wellbeing as they are able to earn an income to provide for their family.

• Financial Support - A working parent will need to access financial support (Parental leave Pay and Childcare rebate) in order to subsidise childcare payments and maintain income whilst off work. This will therefore impact Economic wellbeing due to the relief payments by the Government.

Discuss how access to respite care for both aged and young carers can impact on their wellbeing.

(4 Marks)

Answer the question here - Types of Formal Services (instructure.com)