Austrian Carer’s Association Working FOR and WITH informal carers

1. Austrian Carer’s AssociationWorking FOR and WITH informal carers Birgit Meinhard-Schiebel

2. Contentof Presentation • Situation in Austria • Aims of the Austrian Carers’ Association • Organization of the Association • Events and Milestones • Publicity • Website and Folder • Five Claims from Politics

3. Situation in Austria • 5% of the population gets care allowance from the government • Informal carers provide 80% of care

4. Situation in Austria • Approx. 20% of the concerned families benefit from care and social services • 42% of the caregivers reported that they can not afford community services (i.e. home care)

5. Why should caregivers team up? A platform that acts for carers and lobbies for their requests is necessary.

6. Aims of the Austrian Carers’ Association • Improving carers’ living situation • Raising awareness for the social relevance, burden and challenges of informal caregivers • Raising appraisal and appreciation of carers’ effort

7. Aims of the Austrian Carers’ Association • Identification of supply gaps and lobbying for improvements • Establishment of informal carers as an political relevant group

8. Organization of the Association • Board of directors • Advisory board • Regional coordinators

9. Board of Directors • 6 members • president • recording clerk • treasurer and their deputies • Leading tasks

10. Advisory Board • Approx. 20 members • Personalities from science, practise and business • Tasks: • Counselling the board of directors • Information carrier and multiplicator at events

11. Regional Coordinators • 12 coordinators in 8 states • Main tasks: • Connector to local politicians and agencies • Representative at events • In direct contact with informal carers • Research of community based services

12. Office • National head office • Contact point for organs of association, members and interested persons • Located at the headquarters of the Austrian Red Cross in Vienna

13. Memberships

14. Events and Milestones • Event pre Foundation 11/2009 • Inaugural Meeting 01/2010 • Entry in Register of Associations 04/2010 • Launch of Website 05/2010 • 1st Press Conference 05/2010 • 1st Meeting of Coordinators 08/2010 • 1st Meeting of Advisory Board 09/2010 • 2nd Press Conference 03/2011 • 1st Annual Conference 03/2011 • 1st General Meeting 03/2011

15. Publicity • Two press conferences • Several articles in magazines and newspapers • Interviews on the radio • Representation at events • Networking

16. Information www. ig-pflege.at Folder

17. Five Claims from Politics • Implementation of annual valorisation of care allowances • Creation of independent information centres for persons in need of care and their carers all over the country • Relief and support of caregivers by extension of achievable services

18. Five Claims from Politics • Development of measurements for an improved compatibility of informal care and job • Acceptance of the Carers’ Association as special interest group from the government (on regional, state and national levels)

19. Thank you for your attention! Birgit Meinhard-Schiebel President of the Austrian Carers’ Association birgit.meinhard@ig-pflege.at