25 Oct 2017 McIvor Times, Heathcote VIC (General News) by Lachlan Durling CARERS in Victoria are set to benefit from an extra $265,000 in funding after an announcement from Jaclyn Symes at the launch of National Carers Week in Heathcote. The state member for Northern Victoria joined Carers Victoria CEO Glenn Campbell for the regional launch last Monday at Barrack Reserve where she announced the package as part of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. The funding forms part of the Labor governments second round of the transition support package. There are about 773,400 unpaid carers in Victoria looking after people of all ages with a disability, mental illness, chronic health condition, terminal illness or addiction. Carers Victoria carried out an online survey and 35 faceto-face consultations across the state to find out what matters most to carers in terms of recognition, support and information and potential improvements that the carers sector needs. The survey received more than 1300 responses, which will be used to inform a carers strategy for Victoria, which is set to be released in 2018. Glenn Campbell said Carers Victoria was thankful for the work of unpaid carers. Its fantastic to be here thanking the 2.4 million unpaid family carers, for the government to replace them as a resource would cost in excess of $60 billion a year, he said. The healthcare system couldnt come up with the money to support the work they do. Every carer makes a difference and we have this one week a year to recognise the importance of what they do. Theyre so often underestimated in Australia and often their voices go unheard. The funding will help support carers around Victoria in the work they do while offering additional support packages for eligible carers. Ms Symes said the funding is a welcome relief to carers in Victoria. Im particularly pleased that Labor has once again provided additional funding for Carers Victoria, she said. The government has invested an additional $10 million in the transition support package for organisations to deliver a wide range of readiness activities to support carers, people with a disability and their families, disability workers and service providers transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme. The investment forms the round one funding of $10 million statewide to allow a Carers Victoria advisory service. Caption Text: ? Carers Victoria CEO Glenn Campbell, state member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes and Heathcote Community Health CEO Dan Douglass at the launch of National Carers Week in Heathcote. Licensed by Copyright Agency. You may only copy or communicate this work with a licence.