Our History
In 1997, State and Commonwealth Governments dedicated specific funds to establish services focussed on supporting carers. This was in recognition of 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.
In June 1997, following the successful tenders for carer respite services submitted by Bayside Health (now Alfred Health) and a consortium of southern region Aged Care Assessment Services and State funded services, the Commonwealth Carer Respite Centre Southern Metropolitan Region (former name) was established. The Centre was a combination of both Commonwealth and State funds.
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 April 2008, the Centre was successful in its tender to provide the combination of carer respite and support services with Carelink services. This resulted in a change in the Centre's name to the Commonwealth Respite & Carelink Centre Southern Region, and was in response to a new national initiative combining carer respite and support, with information support across Australia.
The Centre is committed to putting its motto ‘Supporting Carers, Informing theCommunity’ into daily practice.
Over the years, the Commonwealth and State Governments have increased their funding and support to carers, 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 and Urgent Respite
2004 – Young Carers Respite Program
2005 – Commonwealth Carelink Centre
2006 – Disability Respite Coordination
2007 – Mental Health Respite Program
2009 – Employed Carers Respite Program
2010 - Disability Respite for Older Carers Program
2010 - Disability Websites - Respite Victoria and Respite South
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 Human Services (DHS).
