The Respite Support Service

Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre Mid North Coast Respite Support Service, provides a single accessible point for Carers needing information on respite options, or assistance with accessing respite in the Mid North Coast Region.

Previously known as Commonwealth Carer Respite Centre, the Respite Support Service was part of the National Respite for Clients program, which commenced in 1997.

The core role of the Respite Support Service is to provide:

• A single access point for Carers requiring information and options about respite care and related services.
• Carers with flexible short term respite in planned and/or emergency situations using brokerage funds
• A 24 hour emergency respite response when Carers are experiencing an emergency or crisis situation
• A coordinated approach to accessing respite for Carers.

We operate on a brokerage model, hence we purchase respite from appropriate services within the region on a short term or occasional basis if no alternate means of support can be found.

The Commonwealth Departments of Health and Ageing, (DoHA) and Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) fund the Respite Support Service.

Who are Carers?

Carers look after relatives or friends, who have a disability, a chronic, terminal or mental illness, or who are frail aged or have dementia.  Carers provide regular support on an unpaid basis, Carers in receipt of government pensions or benefits are not excluded.

What is respite?

Respite is a break for the Carer, from the responsibility of their caring role.  Respite is when another person takes over the caring responsibilities temporarily, so that the Carer can have a break. It may be for a few hours, a day, a night or even weeks.

Respite is a way of relieving the stress of being a Carer. It is important for Carers to make time for themselves, for their own health and wellbeing.  Finding respite that suits the Carer and the person being cared for is also important.

How we can help Carers?

Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre Mid North Coast Respite Support Service  assists Carers by providing;

• Information about respite options. We hold information on all types of respite options available in the Mid North Coast, both government funded and private agencies.
• Organising short-term respite. We can arrange short term respite, utilizing our brokerage funds, in order to give Carers a break from the responsibility of their caring role.
• Help with organising planned (long term regular) respite. If a carer requires planned respite, we liaise and refer to the most relevant service in their area.

• Paying for respite when needed on a short term or occasional basis. When the carer requires short term or occasional respite, we will assess their circumstances and may  subsidise the cost of the respite when no alternative can be found

• An After Hours Service. We operate a 24 hours 7 day a week service, offering emergency respite, for Carers who find themselves in a crisis situation, such as the Carer becoming ill, hospitalised, experiencing extreme stress or because there is an emergency in the immediate family that requires the Carer being present.

Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre Mid North Coast Respite Support Service provides a number of Commonwealth Funded targeted respite programs.

These programs include:

• Emergency After Hours Service
• Residential Respite Booking Program
• Dementia Respite Program
• Mental Health Respite Program
• Young Carer Program