Gippsland Carers Association could be given a lifeline if the Coalition wins November’s state election after it announced plans to fund a three-year $600,000 pilot support network project for the organisation.
Funding would be spent on developing a regional carer support network across Gippsland to ensure carers at the grassroots level have access to support, information and education they require to carry out their role.
The announcement coincided with a Coalition shadow cabinet meeting in Traralgon headed by Opposition Leader Matthew Guy and Nationals leader Peter Walsh.
Should the pilot project, which will be evaluated by Monash University, be successful, similar support networks could be rolled out across the state.
Gippsland Carers’ Association president Jean Tops welcomed the funding and said regional areas relied heavily on organisations like the carers’ association to provide valuable day-to-day support and advice for carers.
“We are the only regional carers’ organisation in the state of Victoria and we intend through our pilot to prove the worth of having a regional carers’ support network,” Ms Tops said.
“We would hope after having proved that to have the government to fund regional carer networks across the state of Victoria.”
Ms Tops said people grappling in isolation and living in remote communities such as in far east Gippsland were often the most vulnerable and required “urgent help” from the association.
Nationals leader Peter Walsh said the investment would be evaluated to determine the association’s effectiveness and the importance it plays in providing assistance to local carers.
“The announcement will effectively allow Gippsland Carers’ Association to employ a coordinator, to employ two mentors who will work with people who are carers about how they access the services they need,” Mr Walsh said.
