Carer Gateway Advisory Group (CGAG)

Details

Additional information: Join the Carer Gateway Advisory Group

Merri Health is developing a Carer Gateway Advisory Group and a Young Carer Gateway Advisory Group to inform our work across Victoria. Carers will have an opportunity to be involved in decision making, designing and evaluating services, policies, communications, and programs. Carers have valuable perspectives and can help shape services to be more effective and equitable.

Carer Representatives will be paid for their time and participation.

Who are carers?

Carers are anyone who provides unpaid support to a family member, friend, or partner with disability, a medical condition, mental illness or who is frail due to age. Carers can be any age and come from all parts of the community. Children and young adults under 25 years of age are called young carers.

What is Carer Gateway?

Carer Gateway is an Australian Government initiative that delivers services and support to carers across Australia. In Victoria, Carer Gateway is delivered by a group of health organisations across the state, led by Merri Health.

Who can apply?

Carers from anywhere in Victoria are able to apply. You do not have to be currently receiving supports or services through Merri Health or Carer Gateway, though some knowledge of Carer Gateway is beneficial. Carers who are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, LGBTQIA+, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse and people with disability are encouraged to apply.

Young Carers can apply through the Young Carer Gateway Advisory Group web page

See the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) below for more info about who can apply!

How will it work?

The Carer Gateway Advisory Group and Young Carer Advisory Group will run remotely. Carer Representatives will need basic internet access and computer skills, including email and attending video meetings.

How do I find out more?

For more information about the Carer Representative on Carer Gateway Advisory Group role, download the Carer Representative Position Description and read the FAQs below.

How do I apply?

To apply for the Carer Gateway Advisory Group, complete an Expression of Interest form here

For more information about the Young Carer Advisory Group, including how to apply and who to contact for questions, click here

If you are under 18, a parent or guardian must be willing to provide consent for you to apply.

Applications close Friday 24th September

Carer Representative Position Description

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Carer Gateway Advisory Group?

The Carer Gateway want to set up a Carer Gateway Advisory Group in Victoria. This group would be made up of people with lived experience as carers and will be involved in decision making, designing and evaluating services, policies, communications, and programs as part of the Carer Gateway.

Carers are experts in their own experiences and we hope that this group can help shape services to be more effective and equitable for carers.

How will the Carer Gateway Advisory Group work?

The Carer Gateway Advisory Group will have monthly meetings that will run remotely (via Zoom or another online meeting application). Representatives will need basic internet access and computer skills, including email and attending video meetings.

What sort of things will I be involved in as a Carer Representative?

Carer Representatives on the Carer Gateway Advisory Group will share their experiences, opinions and knowledge of being a carer, provide feedback and help develop ways to improve services, policies, communications and programs.

You should expect to:

Speak in a group setting with other carers
Follow a code of conduct regarding safe and respectful behaviour
Read information or resources
Take part in facilitated workshops or training
Share feedback
Complete surveys

There may be other optional opportunities such as public speaking, representing the Carer Gateway Advisory Group at other meetings, training of staff and reviewing documents at different times.

Am I eligible to apply to be a Carer Representative?

You are eligible to apply if:

You are 15 years of age or over.
You are currently or have been an unpaid carer. A carer is someone who provides unpaid support to a family member, friend, or partner with a disability, a medical condition, mental illness, addiction or who is frail due to age.
You want to help make services better for other carers.

Do I need to be a current carer to apply?

You don’t have to be a current unpaid carer – former carers can also apply. If you have past experience of being an unpaid carer but are no longer in your caring role, then we encourage you to apply.

Does it matter if I was/am not the main/primary carer?

You don’t have to have experience of being the main or primary carer to apply. We welcome people with a wide range of experiences of being an unpaid carer to apply, including people who are/were co-carers or are/were not the main carer.

Do I need to have used Carer Gateway or other carer services to apply?

You don’t have to have experience of using Carer Gateway services or any carer services to apply. However, you do need to want to help support other carers and make services better for other carers.

What supports are available for Carer Representatives?

All carer advisers will be provided with training and support to help them in their role as Carer Advisors.

We are committed to addressing the accessibility needs of Carer Representatives wherever we can. For carers with current caring responsibilities, we can cover respite costs to ensure you are free to attend Carer Gateway Advisory Group activities. Let us know if you have any accessibility needs when you apply (for example interpreters, physical access requirements, communication access requirements).

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We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply, including, but not limited to, people with disabilities and culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, as well as those from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and LGBTQIA+ communities.

The Carer Gateway Advisory Group Project Leads will be a key contact for successful Carer Representatives should their support needs change during their term.

Do Carer Representatives get paid?

Yes. Carer Representatives will get paid a sitting fee for preparing for and participating in meetings. For additional activities outside of regular meetings and training, we can provide an hourly rate. We also provide training opportunities for all Carer Representatives.

Carer Representatives are providing valuable expertise and time to help improve our services. We want to make sure you are paid for the work you do as part of the Carer Gateway Advisory Group.

How much time do I need to be a Carer Representative?

We ask that Carer Representatives commit to a minimum of 4 hours a month for a period of 12 months. There may be opportunities for more hours at times but this will be optional.

Do I need to complete police checks or other checks before I apply?

You do not need to complete any checks before you apply. However, all successful applicants will need to get a National Police Check, Working with Children’s Check and Statutory Declaration before they can start. We can help you complete these if required.

What costs are involved in being a Carer Representative?

Carer Gateway will cover:

Payment for tasks as a Carer Representative (including attending meetings, events and training)
Travel costs to attend face to face events if any take place.
Costs associated with accessibility needs (including respite for care recipient if necessary, interpreters, etc)