Discussion Paper - National Carer Strategy carers in regional, rural and remote areas.

As the peak body for rural health, the Alliance’s response to the Discussion Paper focuses on carers in regional, rural and remote areas. [...] In this context, the Alliance wishes to highlight that the burden of disease is 1.4 times higher in remote and very remote areas compared to major cities and 1.5 times higher in the lowest socioeconomic group compared to the highest socioeconomic group.1 As a result, there is a greater need for care within these population groups. [...] In particular, the family ‘carer’, the person who is most involved in the person's day-to-day care, is vital in rural areas as the lack of formal care services to address poor health, disability and old age in rural areas can result in greater reliance on family in these areas. [...] mailto:NationalCarerStrategy@dss.gov.au Unemployment and under-employment The employment and education section of the Strategy touches briefly on the impact of providing care on the carer’s employment. [...] This can then result in isolation or the carer being disengaged from social activities out of the home.6 In particular, rural carers of cancer patients (60% of whom required end-of-life care, based on available data) report that one of the biggest stressors is travelling for health services, especially dealing with the stress of going to the city, and organising the actual travel and time away fro.