As the population ages and the prevalence of chronic disease and disability increases, supporting carers to maintain their role becomes increasingly important. Supports therefore need to effectively achieve their objectives. The Department of Health, the Department of Human Services and service providers also need to recognise carers by involving them in policy and program development, and service planning and provision.
Carers play a vital role in the community and need support to maintain this role. This requires community awareness of the supports that exist and for carers to understand how to access them. Access processes should be transparent and equitable, and supports should be flexible and responsive to carer needs.
A carer is someone who cares for a relative, partner or friend on an unpaid, informal basis. They may care for someone who is aged, has a disability or mental illness, is terminally ill, or for a related child who can no longer live with their parents. A carer who supports a person in most of their daily activities, such as dressing, eating or social activities, is called a ‘primary carer’.
A carer is someone who cares for a relative, partner or friend on an unpaid, informal basis. Carers enable many people to remain living in their homes and communities. This also reduces the financial burden on the health and human services systems. In 2010, Carers Australia estimated that informal carers provided $40.9 billion in care services nationally. In Victoria, there are over 700 000 informal carers, including 194 000 ‘primary carers’, providing support to someone for most of their daily living activities.
Ordered to be printed
VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT PRINTER August 2012
PP No 161, Session 2010–12
In accordance with section 16(3) of the Audit Act 1994 a copy of this report was provided to the Department of Justice, Victoria Police, the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation, the Department of Health, the Department of Planning and Community Development, the City of Casey Council, the City of Greater Geelong Council, the City of Melbourne Council and Swan Hill Rural City Council with a request for submissions or comments.
Affordability and availability are two of the most important determining factors of alcohol consumption levels. Figure A1 shows the correlation between changes in gross domestic product and estimates of alcohol consumption since 1960–61 in Australia.
Figure A1
Change in per capita alcohol consumption and gross domestic product in Australia
Victoria Police and the Compliance Unit are responsible for enforcing the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998 and licence conditions.
While Victoria Police and the Compliance Unit are respectively targeting antisocial behaviour and minor breaches of the Act by licensees, there is no whole‑of‑government enforcement strategy to address unlawful supply, which is the cause of much alcohol-related harm.
There are particular planning requirements for land used to sell or store liquor. Packaged liquor outlets, hotels, clubs and restaurants selling liquor are required to have both a planning permit from the local council and a liquor licence.
Weaknesses and inconsistencies in the legislation and licensing processes have reduced agencies’ ability to effectively minimise alcohol-related harm.