(New Zealand Disability Strategy Objective 15: Value families, whānau and people providing ongoing support)

Family/ whānau usually constitute a disabled person’s primary natural support network. Government is giving increasing attention to actions which strengthen families/whānau and promote their resilience.

Much of this work is being done through the Action Plan for the New Zealand Carers’ Strategy, released in 2008. The Action Plan has a five-year timeframe for its work. The Ministry of Social Development has overarching responsibility for the plan, and is working with other departments to make progress towards achieving its vision for carers.

Financial assistance for carers

The Ministry of Social Development is undertaking continuing work to raise awareness of the availability of income support for carers through the Domestic Purposes Benefit for carers of disabled people, the Disability Allowance and the Child Disability Allowance. The aim is to make sure carers eligible for financial support receive it.

In related work, the Ministry has developed a new guide and a new medical certificate, in association with doctors, to encourage more consistent assessments for the Domestic Purposes Benefit for carers of disabled people.

Increasing carers’ capacity

Actions undertaken in 2008/2009 include:

• the release in September 2009 of the resource document “A Guide for Carers” that provides information about a wide range of supports and services for people caring for disabled people (Ministry of Social Development and other departments)
• the implementation of a carer wellbeing and learning programme for informal carers, including carer publications, Family Care Radio shows, and workshops at the 2009 national Carers Conference (ACC).

Planned actions to increase carers’ capacity include:

• the updating of informal carers’ training requirements, by including strategies for planning in emergencies, as part of the service specifications for Ministry of Health funded clients with long-term physical, sensory and intellectual disabilities (Ministry of Health)
• the development over 2009/2010 by the Family and Community Services of the Ministry of Social Development to refresh guiding principles to include objectives relating to the New Zealand Disability Strategy. This will focus on early intervention to build the capability and resilience of families and communities.

Developing an information base

In 2008/2009, the Department of Labour completed background research on support and services for carers and their transition into and participation in paid employment.

The Ministry of Research, Science and Technology reports that the Health Research Council is now providing funding for research into the support and services currently available to disabled fathers and whether current policy adequately addresses their needs.