Media

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Carers ACT Belconnen Office
Ground Floor
Churches Centre
54 Benjamin Way
Belconnen ACT 2617

Ph: (02) 6296 9900
Fax: (02) 6296 9999

Carers ACT Torrens Office
1 Torrens Place
Torrens ACT 2607

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Carers ACT is committed to communicating the issues that affect unpaid family Carers, with the aim of generating discussion about the contribution Carers make and the supports that are available to them.

We proactively seek avenues to publicise the issues that affect Carers. We can facilitate interviews between the media and special media trained Carers who are willing to share their caring experiences and stories. Our dedicated and professional staff are also capable and willing to speak publicly about the issues that affect Carers, policy decisions and current topics that influence Carers and their families.

Media Releases

Please have a look at our latest media releases and do not hesitate to contact us on 6296 9900 if you would like to pursue Carer stories through Carers ACT.

Why is it important to promote Carer issues in the media?

1. To identify hidden Carers

Despite a wide variety of services that recognise the influence and support of the Carer, many Carers remain hidden. Hidden Carers often prefer to identify with their original relationship with the person they care for (for example, parent or partner), rather than with the new dimension their caring role brings to the relationship. Some Carers do not identify with the term Carer and do not access the support that is available to them. By telling Carer stories this increases the likelihood that Carers will self-identify and seek the supports that they may be entitled to.

"Having been a Carer for over 20 years I really didn't know or accept the real meaning of the term. While listening to a lady (who had been a Carer for her terminally ill husband) say "Be proud of being a Carer" I fully realised the true meaning of the term - Carer."

2. To increase awareness of the contribution that Carers make in our community.

Carers contribute services and support worth over $30 billion each year. There are over 2.6 million Carers across Australia, with over 43,000 in the ACT alone. It is important that the community acknowledges and applauds the voluntary contributions that Carers make. The caring role is often a 24 hours, 7 days a week role that requires many personal sacrifices. This is often done out of love but is a contribution that needs to be celebrated.

Media Training for Carers

Each year Carers ACT runs media training for Carers who are interested in telling their story to help us promote Carer issues. Our media trained Carers can be called upon to tell their story to journalists from a variety of communication areas including print, TV, and radio.

Media training involves an introduction to the media, preparing for an interview, getting your message across, interview techniques and body language advice.

Carers who participate in media opportunities will be fully briefed and supported by staff. Our staff are also more than happy to attend media interviews to support our Carers.

Participation in our media program is voluntary.

Our media training is conducted by media professionals who volunteer their time and skills to the Carers. A big thank you to Phil Lynch, Frank Cassidy, Kevin Wolf and Niree Creed who have all contributed to our media training program.

If you are a Carer who is interested in taking part in media training or in becoming an advocate for Carer issues please give us a call on 6296 9900.

If you are a media professional who is interested in supporting our media training program please give us a call on 6296 9900.

MEDIA

Media Releases

2009

2008

2007

Why is it important to promote Carer issues in the media?

1. To identify hidden Carers

2. To increase awareness of the contribution that Carers make in our community.

Media Training for Carers