UNPAID carers from around the region enjoyed a high tea at Bendigo All Seasons Resort on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
One of the attendees was Cherie Sandwith who cares for her 34-year-old daughter who has a mental health disorder.<\/p>\n
Ms Sandwith said she was happy with the level of support available to unpaid carers such as herself.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a good support worker that helps us,\u201d she said. \u201cShe lives with me, so it\u2019s constant. It\u2019s a mental strain, I think, more than anything, the caring.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt really helps to be out and to talk to people who get what you say, who are going through the same thing.<\/p>\n
Ms Sandwith is also part of a carers of mental health group run by Bendigo Health which she said was helpful to her.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce a fortnight we go out for morning tea and a walk, and once a month we have a group gathering, which really helps because you sort of destress, everybody gets a chance to talk,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The high tea at All Seasons was put on by Carers Victoria, and CEO Judith Abbott said the organisation is passionate about looking after those who care for others.<\/p>\n
\u201cAround 100 carers will come together for some fun, some food, and a chance to both take some time out from their caring role and connect with others who may be in a similar care role,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur job is to make life better for unpaid carers across the state.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the support unpaid carers provide is crucial, said Ms Abbott, it can often come at a personal cost.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvidence indicates that carers are at high risk of poor wellbeing, high psychological distress, and poor physical health,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat includes being two-and-a-half times more likely to have low wellbeing than the average Australian adult, and three times as likely as other Australians to regularly experience loneliness.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 2021 census showed 14.5 per cent of people, more than 20,000, in the Bendigo region aged 15 or older provided unpaid care to individuals with disabilities.<\/p>\n
Ms Abbott said carers who would like to connect with others in local groups around Greater Bendigo can visit the organisation\u2019s website.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
UNPAID carers from around the region enjoyed a high tea at Bendigo All Seasons Resort on Wednesday. One of the attendees was Cherie Sandwith who cares for her 34-year-old daughter who has a mental health disorder. Ms Sandwith said she was happy with the level of support available to unpaid carers such as herself. \u201cWe […]<\/p>\n