George Helon - QLD
A carer's advocate, I am the fulltime 24/7/365 primary carer of my ailing mother who has Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) and is in declining physical health with severe mobility issues, chronic health conditions and numerous ailments. I receive a meagre $136.50 fortnightly Carer's Allowance. With many health issues, including an extremely rare genetic disorder (Pallister-Hall Syndrome), a brain tumour, spinal tumour, mental health issues, almost profoundly deaf, together with a myriad of other medical problems I am on the DSP. Like many, every fortnight I find myself having to contribute more and more from my very limited savings, and I have to bite into my DSP for my mother's upkeep and special needs. Earlier this year I raised a Petition calling on the Prime Minister and the federal government to justly and morally recognise and care for carers, especially those only in receipt of a Carer's Allowance who need immediate, realistic and proper financial recognition for their unrequited efforts in underpinning Australia's aged care and health systems – saving the government and the Australian taxpayer more 77.9 billion dollars a year! Family carers need, and rightly deserve the same respect, recognition and comparable financial remuneration as paid support workers. (Submitted in October 2022)
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