Kogo Spreading the Warmth this Carers Week for MyTime families

By Kerrie Gottliebsen

This National Carers Week 2022 Tweddle would like to recognise and celebrate the invaluable contribution unpaid carers make to our families, communities and economy.

This week, Tweddle’s MyTime families were treated to a morning tea with thanks to Carers Victoria and a beautiful blanket, hand knitted by the generous volunteers at Knit One Give One (KOGO).

Carers Australia state that carers are people who provide unpaid care and support to family members and friends who have a disability, mental illness, chronic condition, terminal illness, an alcohol or other drug issue or who are frail and aged.

Tweddle’s six MyTime groups across Melbourne’s west are where carers of children with special needs can connect with others facing the same challenges. Every week over over 80 families regularly attend MyTime groups in Avondale Heights, Maidstone, Point Cook, Tarneit, Wyndham Vale and Newport.

For many, the importance of the caring role has been magnified due to COVID-19. Parents and carers have been impacted by reduced access to therapeutic care for children, and older carers and grandparents have been forced to distance themselves from families and employment. Grandparents and carers are also juggling home learning and the increased costs associated with self-isolation.

According to the ABS, in 2015 there were 2.7 million unpaid carers in Australia with the replacement value of the unpaid care being over $1 billion per week. Almost all primary carers (96%) care for a family member and over half care undertake this role for at least 20 hours per week.

It’s crucial that carers take the time for self-care. Nurturing your own mental and physical health, establishing time for partners, getting enough sleep, reconnecting with an old hobby and staying in touch with friends and family will help minimise the stress that impacts the caring role.

MyTime coordinator Kim Mace is inviting anyone caring for a child with additional needs aged from birth to 18 years to phone Tweddle to talk about joining one of Tweddle’s six MyTime groups to chat to others and to meet the facilitators.  

You can call Tweddle on 9689 1577 during business hours or visit Carers Australia who offer counselling, advice and information on 1800 242 636.