Dij Vriens shares story amid carers recognition inquiry

A Geelong woman who cares for her adult daughter with Down syndrome has detailed the effects on her life, as an inquiry examines recognition of unpaid carers.

Dij Vriens and her daughter Zarra De Rosso, who has Down syndrome. Picture: Brad Fleet

Geelong’s Dij Vriens has “two shadows”.

She has been caring for her adored adult daughter Zarra De Rosso, who has Down syndrome, since the now 33-year-old was born.

“It impacts my life in such a way I can hardly attend anything for myself,” Ms Vriens said.

Ms Vriens, who is unable to work due to her caring responsibilities and relies on government benefits, said she also received a carer’s allowance through Centrelink.

But the allowance payment, of $144.80 a fortnight, equates to less than 50 cents an hour, she said.

Ms Vriens said she could occasionally attend functions held for carers by support service ermha365 or Carers Victoria, but otherwise gets little to no social time to herself.

Zarra is supported by the NDIS, which means she has a support worker come once a week and attends day programs.

Ms Vriens said unpaid carers’ stories must be listened to in order for them to be afforded better recognition.

“People don’t understand,” she said.

A federal parliamentary inquiry is examining recognition of unpaid carers.

The inquiry will examine the effectiveness of the Carer Recognition Act 2010 in acknowledging the role of unpaid carers, and will consider if legislative reform is needed.

Ermha365, which provides carer support in Geelong, told the inquiry that the understanding of carers’ experiences and the value of the caring role was vastly underestimated and still an invisible role.

It noted there was a “huge disparity” in access to traditional respite for carers, dependent on factors including a support network, financial means, and caring for someone with an NDIS package.

“Respite in the traditional sense needs to be incorporated into the lives of all carers,” the organisation’s submission said.

“This requires more commitment and funding.”

The submission said there was an “urgent need” to integrate legislation, policy and significant funding to a federal agency/department dedicated to carers.

“This must be in addition to services and policies that individual states and territories have in place,” it said.

Carers Victoria told the inquiry caring responsibilities often had an impact on capacity to maintain work hours, sustain paid employment and/or participate in recruitment processes.

“These challenges can in turn contribute to significant financial stress,” its submission said.

Originally published as Dij Vriens shares story amid carers recognition inquiry