Disabled single mother Shakira Hussein reflects on her secret weapon against adversity. Adalya, her ‘excessively mature’ daughter, appointed herself her mother’s carer and fierce protector from age 9.
While enrolments for men over the age of 25 increased, numbers fell for women in this age group. A likely reason for the difference is caring responsibilities, which increased during the pandemic.
People with mental illness are at their most vulnerable when they’re discharged from hospital. Without the support of family or friends at this time, they’re less likely to recover.
A study has found children between the ages of 8 and 14 who take care of a family member with a drug addiction or mental illness aren’t very happy at, and don’t feel all that safe, at school.
In a survey of 600 members of the screen industry, 74% of carers felt their caring responsibilities had a negative impact on their career. Of these, 86% were women.
The NDIS aims to help people with disability live more independently. It was hoped this would reduce carers’ responsibilities and allow them more time to work. But evidence shows this hasn’t happened.
While disability carers are employed to work part-time hours, they often have long work days with short periods of work interspersed with non-work periods.
Patient safety grabbed the attention when plans were mooted to move post-op people out of hospital and into private homes. But the project also moves important work into the shadows.