Achieving equity for women and girls in the ACT: Third Action plan

Carers ACT was invited to put a submission forward for the third action plan as a part of the ACT Women’s Plan 2016-26. Our submission particularly highlights the needs and experiences of female foster and kinship carers, recognising the importance of supporting all female carers.

Priority areas for the submission were:
• Health and wellbeing.
• Safety and inclusion
• Leadership and workforce participation
• Housing and homelessness
• Appropriate and accessible services

Some of the things that Carers ACT highlighted in the submission was the need for further mental health services and funding to access these services. Better understanding of respite needs and supports for female foster and kinship carers in this space. To ensure information on accommodation, housing and emergency housing supports is widely and easily available. To provide gender specific training to assist female foster and kinship carers in dealing with crisis in the home. And to ensure that barriers to accessibility of services and supports is addressed. Carers ACT are looking forward to seeing the Third action plan work more closely with the Carers Strategy and the Carers Recognition ACT to ensure that all female carers, including female foster and kinship carers, receive the supports they need.