Partnership project to focus on carer support groups

A GRANT of $21,000 from Carers Victoria has meant a partnership project can focus on carer support groups, expand support networks, share learning, and connect with local services. Neighbourhood houses in Chiltern, Beechworth and Yackandandah, Beechworth Health Service, Indigo Shire Council and Indigo North Health joined forces for the initiative receiving the State Government funded grant. The team for the project ‘Continued Connections: Indigo Carers’ is now calling for carers to take part following an earlier successful carer-led co-design project by the cohort earlier this year with $40,000 funding from Carers Victoria to focus on carers. Project coordinator Tanya Grant said around 200 carers from across the shire took part in the earlier venture with the development of a carers’ companion and folder to file information as a direct outcome. “Carers were telling us that's what they needed, and they also wanted something that would help them plan,” she said. Beechworth Health Service health promotion and community engagement officer Gabriella Tange said the carers’ companion is a guide to support carers with information in one spot. Ms Grant said the project this time round is aimed at carer support groups. “We also want to get the carers companion out there too and it will be available for people to download off project partner websites as well,” she said. The Carers’ Companion, folder and resources are available from Chiltern, Beechworth and Yackandandah neighbourhood houses. “We’re now mapping what's happening with carer groups in Indigo, but also in surrounding local government areas (LGA)s," Ms Grant said. “This will give us a great opportunity to see where there are gaps, but also to help the three neighbourhood houses start up some carers’ groups.” Ms Grant said neighbourhood houses are pivotal for the self-sustaining initiative with carers connected to the project. “The neighbourhood houses will have resources and information to share,” she said. “We had a carers advisory group that was part of the last project, and we're calling for expressions of interest from carers again because we really want the project to be led by carers to hear what they think and what they need.” Ms Tange said needs identified in the first project included some carers looking for more structured capacity building on creating their knowledge and awareness in a more formal information delivery besides conversations to navigate the system. Ms Grant said a carers network in Wangaratta is in place with organisations working with carers. “We've linked in with them as well as to other projects not in our LGA that also received funding and have connected in with them too," she said. “This means we can share resources across a few of the projects which is fantastic. “Networking is so important, and the carers companion is also available in Wangaratta. “We want to build community capacity with support available from neighbourhood houses. “It's about ensuring that the information is out there so people don't have to do it on their own anymore and they can connect with one another.” The project also explores structured information sessions and potential online carer groups to enhance support for carers. To register interest contact Gabriella on 03 57 280 200 or email info@beechworthhealth.org.au.

Partnership project to focus on carer support groups

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