Australia has over 2.65 million unpaid carers. Being a Carer can be rewarding, but most of the time, this role can be overwhelming and stressful, especially if you do not have someone to confide with. These people sometimes do not realise that they are a carer since they naturally take up the caring role and owe it to themselves to make sure that their family and friends are in good health regardless of everything. To help carers of family or friends living with mental health conditions, the Australian Government created the Carer Gateway program as a means to support the Carers.
Carer Gateway is a new service aimed to help support carers by improving the emotional, physical and overall health and wellbeing of Australian carers.
The Carer Gateway support services include:
- Free telephone counselling
- In-person counselling
- Online self-guided carer coaching modules
- An online peer support community forum
- Carer skills courses
- Peer support
- Emergency respite
Information about topics such as emergency planning, carer payments and legal matters are also available on the Carer Gateway website. If you are looking for additional resources regarding Carers and how to help yourself, Carer Gateway has a library of resources as well as testimonials from people with lived and shared experiences.
The Carer Gateway program offers services for unpaid carers across mental health, aged care, disability, and medical needs. This means that HelpingMinds, in conjunction with Carers WA, will offer support not only to mental health carers but unpaid carers across Western Australia. Explore our website to know what it takes to be considered a Mental Health Carer.
You can access these supports and new online services through the Carers Gateway website, email carergateway@helpingminds.org.au or call HelpingMinds® on (08) 9427 7100 for more information.
