Meet Carer Gateway Consultant – JANINE

Why did you join Your Side?

I joined Your Side in January 2021 as I was attracted to the approach that Your Side takes in supporting their clients – the Total Care approach. Time is taken to understand the clients needs and tailoring supports to meet those needs, improving quality of life and providing the co-ordination of supports for clients. I admire and enjoy being part of the team as each person approaches this model of care with a holistic point of view and do so with genuine care, compassion and understanding. The team work collectively to provide support and solutions for people, ensuring that it is always client centered.

What is your favourite thing about working with and for carers?

I enjoy working together with carers, hearing their stories and finding where I may be able to support them in their caring journey. I hope to make a difference in their day by listening, understanding, linking them to supports and looking at ways they can improve their skills and wellbeing in their caring role. This can have an impact on the carer’s abilities to provide care not only to the person that they are caring for but also to themselves. I enjoy supporting the carer to work on finding this balance and help them reach their own personal goals.

How do you think the Carer Gateway improves care and wellbeing of carers?

The Carer Gateway is centered around supporting the carer to identify their needs and goals – it is tailored for each individual carer. The Carer Gateway improves care and wellbeing by offering a range of supports that may touch carers at different points of their journey and align with their individual goals. This ranges from practical supports such as respite, domestic supports, to courses to assist in personal wellbeing or returning to work, counselling, the opportunity to link with other carers, navigation of systems such as My Aged Care, National Disability Insurance Scheme and other resources.

How does the NDIS come into play with the Carer Gateway?

The Carer Gateway helps carers access longer term solutions to support them in their caring roles. For carers who support a person with a disability, the Carer Gateway can provide guidance and support to access the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). It can also provide support and build the carers capacity to develop on understanding of the NDIS, prepare for planning meetings, reviews, NDIS supports, services and self-advocacy.

Can you give us an example of a carers good news story?

There are a number of good news stories as a result of the support from the Carer Gateway – these are all personal to each carer. One story would be a carer who provides care for two children, one with a diagnosed disability accessing the NDIS and one going through the diagnosis process. The Carer Gateway was able to provide the carer with respite support which gave her a break from caring. It also assisted in her understanding of the NDIS. She joined a peer support group which linked her to other carers in a similar situation. The overall outcome resulted in better understanding of the NDIS, time to herself, deeper connections with other carers and she was able to reflect on how her caring role and employment were impacting her wellbeing. She completed job coaching and is now looking at a different career path which aligns with her caring role and personal values to provide her with a greater level of wellbeing.

Is there a personal experience with carers that you would like to share? Or do you have a lived experience?

I have worked in the disability sector for 25 years and have worked across community, education, State and Federal Government settings. During this time I worked with a number of carers, who have shown their love, care and support to the person that they care for – they hold strong values and resilience in their caring roles. I am also a carer, of two children with disability. I am passionate about combining my professional and personal experiences to support carers.