It is quite apparent the same respect, recognition, financial remuneration, statutory, legal and other benefits and security afforded to paid support workers will continue to elude Carers until we are recognised as somebodies rather than anybodies.
Whilst we continue to allow ourselves to be called unpaid Carers by the government and those peak bodies that are supposed to represent us, our roles, all we do, and our many sacrifices will continue to be largely unrecognised, undervalued and unrequited.
UNPAID = OF NO VALUE = NO LEGAL OBLIGATION TO ACKNOWLEDGE
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So What Should We Call Ourselves?
Your thoughts? Should Carers – as distinct from paid support workers - be referred to as:
- Carers
- Caregivers
- Family Carers (21.05%)
- Informal Carers
- Kinship Carers
- Primary Carers (68.42%)
- Unpaid Carers
- Other (Please Specify) (10.53%)
Results current to 18 June 2024.
Drop me a line with your preference.
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What we allow ourselves to be called creates or negates any obligation on the part of the government, the Australian Fair Work Commission, other statutory authorities, the public service, associated providers, etc. to recognise, treat, value, remunerate and requite Carers as a valid labour force contributing to the stability and growth of the Australian economy.
In consideration of the latest Australian Fair Work Commission decision increasing the national minimum wage to $24.10 an hour, $915.80 for a 38-hour week, $1831.60 a fortnight, or $47,621.60 per year, Carers save the government it is estimated between $77.9 billion to a staggering $126.2 billion dollars a year.
Whilst Carers saddle the burden of underpinning the aged care, NDIS (disability), health and social service sectors, paid support workers are receiving just, fair, and proper respect, recognition, financial remuneration, statutory, legal and other entitlements and benefits.
When introduced in 1999 – that’s 25 years ago mind you – Carer Allowance was set at $75.60 a fortnight, $1960.40 pa, or 25% of the Aged Pension partnered rate of $7841.60 pa.
In 25 years, and irrespective of inflationary pressures, the global financial crises and the cost of living calamity, Carer Allowance has only risen by $77.90; the average increase a pitiful $3.12, or 4.13% a year.
With those figures in mind (and based on the current Aged Pension partnered rate) carers should be getting a more reasonable $420.70 a fortnight for all they do.
The government's failure to acknowledge and address the gross disparity between what assistance it affords Carers compared to the statutory and legal entitlements and benefits of paid support workers continues to increase the financial vulnerability of carers as they sacrifice – among other things – career, income, future income potential and superannuation; their our own health, family dynamics and relationships, and in some cases their homes to look after someone they love.
But let’s not mistake love and obligation to make it an excuse to treat carers immorally and unethically as slave labour simply because the government can brand them, for the purposes of the NDIS, NDIA and Aged Care schemes, as informal supports.