Dear carers,

As the ACT Election draws near, we would like to update you on the progress of our election campaign Stand with Carers.

A quick reminder summary of our election asks:

• Carer Recognition Card
• Review of the Mental Health Act
• Carer Directed Wellbeing and Respite Packages
• Land for a Carer Wellbeing and Respite Centre
• Young Carer Mentoring Program
• Carer Bereavement Counselling
• Integrated Mental Health Centre
• Dedicated Mental Health Prevention Funding

We are pleased to inform you that a number of our election asks have been picked up the major parties. The Carer Recognition Card, which we know will be a useful tool to acknowledge the important role of carers in the community, has gained support from both ACT Labor and ACT Greens. Both parties have also committed to working with Carers ACT for land to build a purpose-built Carer Wellbeing and Respite Hub that will offer a dedicated space for carers to rest and recharge. There is tri-partisan backing for a review of the ACT’s Mental Health Act, a welcome step towards the creation of a mental health system that works for carers and the people you care for. Additionally, we commend the recent commitment by the ACT Greens to fund carer driven wellbeing and respite packages, which will give carers a choice on how they want to improve their wellbeing.

We are aware that we’ve yet to secure support for carer bereavement counselling and we continue to work with the parties to secure this commitment.

Acknowledging that we’ve had public announcements from ACT Labor and ACT Greens we are looking forward to a public policy platform for carers from Canberra Liberals.

You can check out how the major parties are tracking against our elections asks by clicking the button for our scorecard here:

Carers ACT Election Asks Scorecard

In addition to commitments to our carer election requests, there have been lots of other policy announcements that may benefit carers or be of interest. Of particular note, ACT Labor has committed to the development of the 2ND Action Plan for the implementation of the ACT Carers Strategy. ACT Labor is keen to see long term investment and prioritisation of carers across government.

ACT Labor’s commitment to community paediatric services aims to provide early intervention in one location and should make it easier for carers of children with disability to access and coordinate supports. They have also committed to recruiting more health workers and incentivising GP bulk billing to enhance access to affordable healthcare, particularly for children. ACT Labor has also included commitments to increase school psychologists and mental health practitioners to support young people, ensuring easier access to early intervention mental health supports, benefitting both students and mental health carers.

Commitments from the ACT Greens that may interest carers include expanding the PACER (Police Ambulance Clinician Early Response) program to include a safe, non-clinical residential mental health de-escalation option (this means respite beds), as well as establishing a Distress Brief Intervention (DBI) trial and an eating disorder day program and inpatient unit. They also propose more free GP visits, particularly for those with long term health concerns, and expanded palliative care options.  Additional initiatives include a Centre for Neurodivergence, expanded perinatal services, accessibility grants for renters, and a drop-in youth crisis centre for mental health support.

Canberra Liberal commitments that may benefit carers include increased access to GPs through incentives to remain open after-hours and co-locating GPs at some Walk-In Centres. They have committed to improving access to autism and ADHD diagnoses, and to provide more funding for disability advocacy and disability employment grants, as well as to introduce Disability Liaison Officers in hospitals. Mental health funding will be boosted and include funds for mental health housing, with a focus on instilling a “no-wrong-door” policy within the mental health system. The party also plans to reduce wait times for elective surgeries, prioritise building the new Canberra Hospital, offer free bus travel for concession card holders, seniors and students, and provide cost of living supports like electricity and registration rebates.

Independent candidates are difficult to report on as a group given there are numerous party platforms. However, we have been pleased to see many independent candidates have shown support for the wellbeing and recognition of carers, and we thank them for their engagement with carer issues.

For a more detailed analysis of commitments made by candidates that we think will be of relevance to carers, click the button below:

2024 ACT Election Commitments Summary

If you haven’t yet pledged your support for our election campaign, now is the perfect time. Head over to Carers ACT Election Campaign and sign up today! Even better, when you meet candidates at your local shopping centre, take a moment to chat with them about our key election asks – and don’t forget, you can stop by our office in Holt to grab some election postcards to share with campaigning candidates. You can also download postcards, campaign letter templates, email addresses for candidates, social media posts and other carer election resources on our Supporter Pack webpage to help you advocate for the support that matters most to you.

Lisa Kelly
CEO