A deliberative panel of 49 citizens made up of carers and non-carers was convened in Canberra to discuss ways in which to make Canberra a more carer-friendly city and develop a Carers Strategy
Problems and Purpose
Around 48,000 people provide unpaid care in Canberra, including those who care for family and friends with health conditions and who look after children who are not their own [1]. To assist in developing a new ten year strategy, the ACT government undertook a deliberative process with a group of carers.
The aim of the process was to ensure that carers voices were heard in the ACT and help inform the ACT Carers Strategy. The panel were asked specifically to consider:
- What would make Canberra a carer friendly city?
- What outcomes the community wants to see for carers?
- What the community’s shared priorities should be? [2]
Background History and Context
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Organizing, Supporting, and Funding Entities
The Carers Voice Panel was convened by the ACT government’s department of community services. It was designed and facilitated by democracyCo, and the process was supported by Carers ACT, a non-profit organisation advocating for and supporting carers in the ACT, who conducted the broader community consultation leading up to the panel [3].
Participant Recruitment and Selection
49 people participated in the deliberative panel. It is not clear how participants were recruited or if the panel were comprised entirely of carers or not. The ACT Carers Strategy states that
Carers of all ages, culturally and linguistically diverse carers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers, and carers with disability participated and were heard [4].
Methods and Tools Used
What Went On: Process, Interaction, and Participation
Prior to the deliberative panel taking place, Carers ACT conducted a broader community consultation, although details of this could not be found.
The deliberative panel met over two days and heard from witnesses including carers. They deliberated in small and large groups to identify relevant issues and define key points to inform the carers strategy. At the end of the second day, the panel presented their recommendations to elected officials from the ACT government. A small group of carers then worked with democracyCo finalize the panel’s final statement [5].
Influence, Outcomes, and Effects
The ACT government had given an in-principle agreement to accept the priorities identified by the panel [6]. The final statement of the Carers Strategy was released in 2018.
Analysis and Lessons Learned
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See Also
References
[1] ACT Government (2018). Carers of Canberra: ordinary people doing extraordinary things [pdf]. Available at: https://communityservices.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/1142581/Panel-Report-final.pdf, p. 2.
[2] Carers ACT (2017). Carers voices heard in the process to develop an ACT carers strategy. Available at: https://www.carersact.org.au/2017/10/31/act-carer-strategy-panel/
[3] ACT Government (2017). Carers Voice Panel gets underway [media release]. Available at: https://www.cmtedd.act.gov.au/open_government/inform/act_government_media_releases/rachel-stephen-smith-mla-media-releases/2017/carers-voice-panel-gets-underway
[4] ACT Government (2018). ACT Carers Strategy 2018-2028 [pdf]. Available at: https://www.communityservices.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/1142582/Statement-final.pdf
[5] Carers ACT (2017). Carers voices heard in the process to develop an ACT carers strategy. Available at: https://www.carersact.org.au/2017/10/31/act-carer-strategy-panel/
[6] Ibid.
External Links
https://www.democracyco.com.au/our-projects/carers-strategy/
