Our History
In June 1997, State and Commonwealth Governments dedicated specific funds to establish services focussed on supporting carers. It recognised the significant role and contribution of carers in supporting people who are frail aged or have a disability to remain living in the community. These ‘carer services’ concentrated on the health and wellbeing of the carer, and provided information and 24 hour access to support and urgent respite via a national 1800 number.
The Commonwealth Carer Respite Centre Southern Metropolitan Region (the Centre) was established following the successful tender by Alfred Health for the Commonwealth Carer Services and the consortium of aged care and packaged care agencies in Victoria's southern metropolitan region for State services. This alliance augmented the formative years of the service.
The Centre (and the national 1800 phone number) was officially launched on the lawns of Caulfield Hospital, in February 1998, by a carer, Val Pugh, the Federal Minister for Ageing, Warwick Smith, and the State Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Robert Doyle.
In 2000, the Centre developed a Carers Charter outlining its commitment to support and be responsive to its carer community.
In 2005, the Minister for Ageing, Julie Bishop launced the Cluster Model of Residential Respite at the Centre.
In April 2008, the Centre successfully tendered in response to a new national initiative to provide the combination of carer respite and support services with Carelink (information support) services.
In its infancy, the Centre provided the following services:
Carer Support - Aged
Residential Respite Program
After Hours Emergency Respite Program
Aged Service Development
Over the years, the funding has increased, enabling the Centre to expand its programs and services to include:
1999 - Mental Health Carer Resourcing
2000 - Disability Carer Respite Program
2001 - Dementia and Behaviour Respite Program
2002 - CareLine Telephone Support
2004 - Young Carers Program
2005 - Commonwealth Carelink Centre
2006 - Disability Respite Coordination
2007 - Mental Health Respite Program
2008 - Strengthening Aboriginal Respite
2008 - Dementia Education and Training
2009 - Employed Carers Respite Program
2010 - Disability Respite for Older Carers Program
2010 - Disability Websites - Respite Victoria and Respite South
2010 - Disability -Support for Older Carers Program
The Centre’s catchment represents almost one quarter of the state's population (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006 Census) living in the ten local government areas of Bayside, Cardinia, Casey, Frankston, Glen Eira, Greater Dandenong, Kingston, Mornington Peninsula, Port Phillip and Stonnington.
The Centre’s staff work closely with their clients, service providers and the local community, from four site offices located in Caulfield, Dandenong, Frankston and Sandringham.
The Centre delivers a “one-stop-shop” approach to supporting carers by providing 24 hour urgent respite, support and assistance to carers of all ages. Carers provide unpaid substantial care to a relative or friend with a physical, intellectual or sensory disability, people with a mental illness or an older person.
In addition, the Centre provides information about local and regional aged, disability and community care services (during business hours) to carers, people with age or disability related needs, service providers, and the community.
The Centre is active in trialling innovative support models and carer respite activities that value the self-determination, empowerment and contribution of carers; and impart respect, confidence and support to the role of carers.
In October 2008, a special Carers Day Out event was held at Caulfield Racecourse where over 500 carers, government dignitaries, service providers and staff celebrated the Centre’s ten years of successful operation.
The Centre’s programs and services are currently funded by the Federal Government Departments of Health and Ageing (DoHA); and Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA); and the State Government Department of Health (DoH) and Human Services (DHS).
