Wellways is one of the new Carer Gateway service providers in Queensland and COTA Queensland’s team met recently with the community engagement officer for the Wide Bay area. With the Queensland team now in place they are keen to connect with carers across the state.
Carers are people in our community who assist family members or friends who may be living with a disability, a medical condition, mental illness or who are frail due to age. The Carer Gateway offers support and information to assist people in this valuable and sometimes stressful role.
The Carer Gateway has now changed how supports are delivered for carers, providing a single point of entry for all carer support programs funded by the Australian Government. To find out more, including for those of you who may have been receiving some carer support in the past, please go to www.carergateway.gov.au/help-advice/getting-help or phone 1800 422 737 (24 hours).
The Gateway website provides an online information portal offering access to counselling, online forums, self-guided coaching, skills courses and practical help and support.
When you call the Carer Gateway you will reach a Carer Gateway service provider in your area. A trained worker will be available to talk with you and then help you to find services and support to meet your needs.
Supports available include:
- Carer support planning: assisting carers to identify useful services and develop an ongoing support plan
- Carer directed supports: practical assistance to carers to ensure access to resources needed in the caring role
- Counselling: phone counselling, online counselling or face to face settings are offered free of charge with a professional counsellor
- In person peer support: making connections with other carers to share stories, knowledge and experience can be online or face to face in small groups
- Emergency respite care: if something urgent or unforeseen arises that takes a carer from their role, supports can be provided to ensure the person you care for is looked after.
Carers can register for supports by calling 1800 422 737. A carer support worker will be assigned to each registered carer and tailored referrals will be made as identified through an assessment process.
If you would like a Carer Gateway staff member to attend a group or workplace to provide information on the Carer Gateway services, please contact 1800 422 737.
