01 Nov 2017 Mansfield Courier, Mansfield VIC (General News) LAST week Jaclyn Symes (MLC, Northern Victoria) launched regional Victorias National Carers Week, announcing an additional $265,000 for Carers Victoria. Ms Symes joined Carers Victoria chief executive officer Glenn Campbell for the weeks regional launch in Heathcote. There are around 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 face to 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. More than 1300 responses were received as part of the research, which will play an integral part in broader reforms for Victorian carers. The comprehensive and wide-ranging feedback will be used to inform a Carers Strategy, to be released in 2018. National Carers Week is an opportunity to celebrate the outstanding work of thousands of unpaid carers and their valuable contribution to the community, Ms Symes said. Developing a strategy to support carers and better reflect the responses received in the recent consultations, is a demonstration of the commitment the government has to Victorias dedicated carers. 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 (NDIS). This investment builds on round one funding of $10 million, and will ensure Carers Victorias Carer Advisory Service for the NDIS is offered statewide, and that relationships with other disability services are strengthened. Licensed by Copyright Agency. You may only copy or communicate this work with a licence.