Overcrowded hospitals and nursing homes, homelessness and premature deaths are just some of the outcomes possible without carers.
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Those unpaid workers who provide such vital service will be acknowledged and entertained at an Albury luncheon on Thursday as part of National Carers Week.
The Border Carers Reference Group, comprised of carer support services like Upper Murray Family Care, Intereach, Rural Care Link, Albury Wodonga Health, Aspire, One Door Mental Health and Live Better, is running the event with the support of Carers NSW and Commercial Club Albury.
One Door Mental Health carer advocate Susan Morris said the reference group began about 19 years ago.
“I think originally we got together to be a voice for carers and recognise the role that unpaid carers, family members and sometimes neighbours do for someone who needs support at certain times in their life,” she said.
“There’s 2.7 million family and friend carers in Australia, providing 36 million hours of care and support every week, it equates to $1.1 billion per week.”
Upper Murray Family Care support practitioner Brooke Boede said functions like the luncheon offered guests the chance to socialise and take a break from their usual responsibilities.
“The events that we do organise put the focus on the carer because they often put themselves second or third or last in their role so it gives them a bit of time to revitalise and relax,” she said.
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“It gets them to stop and think too, because they’re in that daily grind and when there’s an event like this, where they stop and go, ‘Oh, I am doing something good, thank-you for recognising that’.”
Fellow support practitioner Jan Kowarzik, also of Upper Murray Family Care, said carers came from all age groups and situations, supporting, for example, people with dementia, mental health issues or disabilities.
“Sometimes it’s very sudden, you just never know when you might become, or you might need, a carer,” she said.
Ms Boede said often people almost fell into the role of looking after a neighbour.
“They’ve had the friendship over how ever long, then it’s the neighbourly thing of giving a hand and then all of a sudden it’s a daily thing,” she said.
“A lot of people until it’s pointed out to them don’t realise.
“They don’t identify that as being a caring role, they just see it as a friend helping out.”
Thursday’s luncheon at Commercial Club Albury will include live musical entertainment, prizes and giveaways, with up to 100 people expected to attend.
National Carers Week continues until Saturday.
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