National Respite for Carers Program

An initiative of the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing that supports and assists relatives and friends caring at home for persons who are frail or have a disability. The program offers:

• Flexible respite options for carers of the frail elderly and persons with a disability in regions north and south of Brisbane. Staff liaise with carers to develop a service plan, i.e. day care centre; community access; in-home respite; overnight (in-home, host family or other); host family daytime; and vacation
• Cottage-style respite for carers of frail-aged persons in Brisbane's north
• Flexible respite options for employed carers of frail-aged persons in the north Brisbane metro and Brisbane south regions

Employed Carers Program

Funded by the National Respite for Carers Program, the care recipient must live in the north Brisbane metro or Brisbane south regions. The program provides a variety of respite options to carers of frail older persons where the carer is:

• In paid employment and experiencing difficulty meeting their care obligations
• Planning to return to work or study and requiring assistance to meet their care obligations
• Service users can access supplementation to normal care arrangements and alternative care, particularly for out-of-standard working hours. Alternative arrangements may include additional centre-based care and/or in-home respite to cater for overnight, night shifts and out-of-hours care.