Poster board (adapted)

Carers NSW 2015 Biennial Conference

The together Poster Board was presented at the Carers NSW 2015 Biennial Conference on May 21st and 22nd at Novotel Olympic Park, Sydney.

This information is now available to view as a slideshow presentation.

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• The together program provides opportunities for existing and new

support groups (for carers of people with disability in New South

Wales) to be linked in with each other and an organisation to

receive some assistance.

• The together: Support groups for carers of people with a disability

in NSW program came about through an unmet need for a funded,

coordinated, state-wide network of support groups for carers of

people living with disability.

• The together program is centrally managed by Carers NSW and

funded by the NSW Department of Family and Community Services,

Ageing, Disability and Home Care.

The together program provides:

• Structured support including education and training for group

facilitators.

• Funding to support group sustainability including venue hire,

administration, resources and guest speakers.

• Central coordination of carer support groups.

• Capacity building for organisations working with support

groups for carers of people with disability.

260CARER SUPPORT GROUPSCONNECTED TO THE

TOGETHER PROGRAM ACROSS NEW SOUTH WALES

20RAOs across NSW

CARER SUPPORT GROUPSARE CONNECTED TO A LOCALREGIONAL ASSISTING ORGANISATIONTO SUPPORT AND NURTURE LINKS AT LOCAL AND REGIONAL LEVEL

NOT ALLCARER SUPPORT GROUPS

ARE THE SAME

Not all Carer Support Groups are the same!

8

• Craft Groups

• Walking Groups

• Singing Groups

• Café Groups

• Social Groups

• Ukulele Groups

Registered Groups include:

SEED FUNDINGTO ASSIST THE GROUPS

SUSTAINABILITY

The together program provides:

• The together program can provide financial assistance to some

registered carer support groups. Small funds are provided as a

contribution to group running costs. The amount of funding

provided to a group is based on local need rather than a fixed

amount.

• Financial assistance to groups registered with the together

program aims to assist carer support groups to become self-

sustaining into the future.

Financial Assistance

Funding can be used for:

Think outside the box

What Facilitators Want – together support

82%

82%

52%

Access to resources for facilitators to use with group

Up-to-date information in regards to changes to policy, services, and entitlements

Organised training workshops for facilitators

Emerging Carer Issues in together groups

78%

69%

56%

Supporting the mental health and wellbeing of carers

Carers and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

How to sustain the group under the together program

January 2015 survey sent to 173 facilitators. 36% completion rate (n=63)

Education and Training

Highlights

FACILITATOR FORUMANNUAL FORUM BRINGING FACILITATORS TOGETHER

The together program hosts an annual forum for facilitators of

together groups in Sydney. The forum provides an opportunity for

sharing, knowledge exchange and networking with other carer

support group facilitators. Guest speakers talk on a range of topics,

including developing advocacy strategies in your carer support

group, carer support groups and the introduction of the NDIS, and

the importance of self-care for facilitators.

FACILITATOR TELE-MEETINGSSUPPORT GROUPS FOR THE FACILITATOR

Monthly tele-meetings enable facilitators to talk openly about the

facilitation of their groups and discuss ways to overcome group

challenges. The peer support from other carer support group

facilitators connects participants from all corners of the state.

The together Education and Training program provides educational

workshops to established and commencing Carer Support Groups across

all 16 NSW Local Health Districts in the past three (3) years.

Workshops have included:

• Setting Up A Carer Support Group

• Carer Support Groups: A workshop for facilitators

FACILITATOR WORKSHOPS

WORKSHOP FEEDBACK

• Networking opportunity was also "GOLD"

• I look forward to using the knowledge I've gained today

• This has better prepared me for supporting carers, now

feel more confident facilitating the group

• Facilitators were great and learnt a lot from the group

participants and their experiences.

• Interactive and thought provoking.

For further information go to www.togethersupportgroups.org.au or call 1800 242 636