14/10/2026
This week is national carers week with the theme this year being “Care for a carer: Making carers visible”. To recognise, celebrate, and raise awareness of the more than 3 million Australians who provide unpaid care to a family member or friend.
It can be a tough gig with very little thanks, you’re existing in a constant hypervigilant state ready to wrap up and protect your loved one while still trying to help them grow and spread their wings and the constant worry is exhausting.
However, we also acknowledge how rewarding it can be. When you see your person out in the community building independence away from you, making friends, trying something new and learning new skills it’s like something inside you just lights up, you can see the possibilities of a bright rewarding future for them.
Thanks to the NDIS it has been possible for many of us to see and experience this first hand. A friend where they had never had one before (that they met at an NDIS provider who provides access to supported social groups), meeting their “people” fitting in, laughing, experiencing interactions that other neurotypical young people get to experience everyday with ease. The load as a carer is lightened a little, you can start to feel what life could be like for yourself if your loved one is out and about living their chosen life, we can start to think who am I and what are the things I used to enjoy.
Well, that was until the lazy decision by Mark Butler MP to cut everyone’s Social Community Participant funding by 50%. No consultation, no needs assessment, just cut, boom, no matter how much evidence you provide, just gone, good luck on your own. Maybe he got sick of seeing people with disability out and about in his community, achieving goals, taking part in events, contributing to the economy, improving their mental health and experiencing life just like the rest of the community. 100% the NDIS needs reform, but this is not the way. They themselves have let it get to this and now participants and carers, who have their lives set up around it, services and supports in place, wins being made, to then have half of it stripped away. Not ok!
That little touch of freedom that carers began to experience over recent times, well kiss that goodbye as more pressure and stress is being put back on us. We are left to pick up the pieces as our loved ones are pulled from their much loved activities, groups and events. Our young adults don’t want to be going to the movies or events with their parents they want to be going with friends like any other young adult and this can only happen with Social Community Funding!
Well thanks Mr Butler, that is now gone. Happy Carers Week everyone, we see you and we feel for you all but keep going because if we don’t who will??
