Carers NSW 2014 carer survey: main report

Executive Summary The biennial Carers NSW Carer Survey collects information about carers in NSW to inform the organisation・s direction, support and systemic advocacy for all carers across NSW. The 2014 survey collected more extensive and detailed data than any previous Carer Survey and has established a framework to guide future surveys. This report provides an overview of the main findings from the survey data, with future publications to investigate specific issues in greater depth. The survey was completed by 1,684 carers - 84% of whom were female, and over half were aged between 45 and 64 years. A significant majority were the main provider of care for those they supported. Approximately one in three had experienced a long-‐term illness or disability themselves within the previous year. While the demographic profile of survey respondents indicated a wide range of caring relationships and experiences, comparisons with population-‐based statistics highlight that this sample is not representative of the broader NSW carer population. This limits the generalisability of survey findings, however, it also allows for more detailed data analysis to be conducted within the more highly represented sub-‐groups of carers, and also suggests areas for improved data collection in future surveys. Carers generally framed their reasons for caring in a positive way, with more than twice as many wanting to take on their caring roles than felt they had no choice. Nevertheless, a significant proportion indicated that no one else assisted them or that they would not be able to find help if they needed a break. Significantly, over one quarter of respondents reported providing more than 70 hours of care per week. This finding is particularly important, since associations were found between the hours of care provided per week, the length of caring roles, and the prevalence of carers\u27 long‐term illness or disability. In line with a great deal of previous literature, the wellbeing of carers in this survey was low compared to the general Australian population. Despite this, carers consistently emphasised the positive value of caring as being greater than the negative impacts. This report highlights those carers who are at greater risk of experiencing low wellbeing, including those with more intensive caring demands and those with long-‐term illnesses or disabilities. At the same time, male carers and older carers tended to report higher levels of wellbeing. Amongst carers who were not in paid employment, more than one in two had stopped working because of their caring responsibilities. Notably, these carers reported poorer wellbeing than those who had stopped working for other reasons. A large majority of working carers indicated that their employers knew about their caring responsibilities, but one in four did not feel supported to balance work and care. Survey responses also indicated that many carers experience some degree of conflict in balancing their caring responsibilities, finances and career progression. Carers reported using local doctors and family/friends for support more than any other source, as well as being restricted from accessing services by the cost, not knowing what was available, and their caring responsibilities taking priority. A majority of carers were not currently accessing supportive services for themselves and interestingly, most did not want to. When carers were satisfied with the services received by the person(s) they cared for and felt more included by service providers, they were more likely to report better wellbeing outcomes. Carers of people with a disability were invited to share their expectations of the impact of person centred approaches and individualised funding to the disability service sector. Awareness of these concepts had increased since the Carers NSW 2012 Carer Survey, with expectations being more positive than negative. Notably, carers who had practical experience of individualised funding packages were much more positive about their introduction than those yet to experience them. Former carers were also invited to complete the survey, with 146 responses being received. Their previous caring roles had usually ended through the death of the person they cared for or the care recipient\u27s admission into residential care facilities. Very few indicated that they had stopped caring because they could no longer cope, highlighting carers\u27 resilience and dedication to their caring roles. The data collected in this survey will inform a range of advocacy and research work. Importantly, the Carers NSW 2014 Carer Survey makes a significant contribution to the evidence base regarding carers in NSW, with the main findings indicating implications for the recognition and support of carers by service providers, governments, and the wider community. &nbsp

Taking Responsibility: Psychological and Attitudinal Change through a Domestic Violence Intervention Program in New South Wales, Australia

Literature widely reports the negative impacts of domestic violence at individual, family, and societal levels. Intervention programs that effectively assist violent men to develop alternate ways of relating, and thus enhance the safety of women and children, are of significant value to governments and the community. This study evaluates the effectiveness of one such program in promoting change in relevant attitudes and psychological constructs. Program participants completed pre- and post-group surveys containing validated scales that measured their gender equity beliefs, self-esteem, mastery, and psychological distress. Over the duration of program attendance, positive changes were evident regarding men’s self-esteem, mastery, and psychological distress, however, no significant change in gender equity beliefs was apparent. The positive changes evident amongst participants indicate beneficial outcomes from group work participation in areas that have been identified as risk factors for violent behaviour.  The results also suggest that intervention programs would benefit from an increased focus on gender equity beliefs, and that further research is necessary on the extent to which this focus could improve attitudes, and consequently promote safety for women and children

The carer persona: Masking individual identities

According to Jungian theory, ‘persona’ is a concept reflecting a compromise between the individual and society. In mediating between a person’s subjective inner world and the external social world, the persona represents a generalised idea of the self which builds up from experiences of interacting with society. Such reflections of self-identity can therefore develop across multiple domains of a person’s life, culminating in understandings of self in a variety of specific roles. The existence of multiple personas can be clearly demonstrated in the context of people providing unpaid care for a family member or friend who has a disability, mental illness, chronic condition, or who is frail. Carers are likely to possess multiple roles as an individual, existing across various social and personal domains. This paper argues that in caring for loved one, a compromise takes place between individual selves and the social caring role. That is, the ‘carer persona’ can mask a carer’s individual identities and their associated needs. The potential complexity of caring roles is therefore explored, with an emphasis on acknowledging the personal needs and identities of carers beyond their caring roles. This acknowledgment has implications for service delivery and policy development regarding carers and those for whom they care