Supporting young carers in the workforce: a case for change Presenter: Freya Saich Authors: Freya Saich and Carolina Simpson
Carers NSW About The peak non-government organisation for people in New South Wales (NSW) who provide informal care and support to a family member or friend who has a disability, mental illness, drug or alcohol dependency, chronic condition, terminal illness or who is frail. Vision Our vision is an Australia that values and supports all carers. Our goals are to: • Work with carers to improve their health, wellbeing, resilience and financial security • Have caring recognised as a shared responsibility of family, community and government
Overview The caring role • Context • Hours of work • Demographics • Flexible working • Hours of care • Carers NSW 2016 • Work/life balance • Care tasks Carer Survey • Independence of the • Typical respondent care recipient • Informal supports Working • Use of formal services Young carers Conditions
Context Definitions • A carer is anyone who provides care and support to a family member or friend with a disability, mental illness, drug or alcohol dependency, chronic condition, terminal illness or is frail. • A primary carer is the person who provides the most care to someone. • A young carer is anyone who has a caring role and is under the age of 25, including children and teenagers.
Demographics Young carers • There are over 270,000 young carers in Australia* • This is an underestimate as many young carers are ‘hidden’, i.e. don’t identify as a carer, or are not recognised as such. Young primary carers • There are over 20,000 young primary carers in Australia (15-24 only)* • Young primary carers predominantly care for a parent, but sometimes their own child or partner* • Approximately 40% of young primary carers provide over 20 hours of care each week* • Carers NSW estimates that in one year alone young primary carers would save the government $750 million in replacement care costs.** *Australian Bureau of Statistics (2016) ** Carers NSW estimates based on Deloitte Access Economics (2015)
Demographics Educational Attainment • Higher rates of absenteeism, difficulties completing homework.* • Less likely to finish year 12 and have a post-secondary education.* Workforce Participation • Lower workforce participation.** • More likely be out of the labour force – combination of lower educational attainment and ongoing caring responsibilities. • Require support to participate in education and employment, and flexibility to balance work/study and care. *Hill et al. (2011) **Cass et al. (2011); Bray (2012)
Carers NSW 2016 Carer Survey Respondents • Approximately 2,000 respondents to the survey • 41 young carers (aged 16-25) responded to the survey • The majority (82%) of employed young carers were working on a casual or part time basis. 19 1958 41 22 respondents young carers employed unemployed
Typical young carer respondent Carers NSW 2016 Carer Survey Employed Unemployed young carer young carer Tertiary educated Not tertiary educated Worked casually in a job lower Receiving an income support than their skillset for 20hrs/week payment Cared for 20 hrs/week Cared for more than 70 hrs/week Care recipient accessed formal Care recipient did not access services but this did not reduce formal services their caring role
Aspects of the caring role Hours of care
Aspects of the caring role Care tasks Care tasks required from carers People with disability requiring such care (%) Communication 90.2 Reading/writing 89.9 Meal preparation 89.9 Mobility 89.3 Transport 86.6 Coping with emotions 84.2 Self-care 80 Household chores 76.1 Property maintenance 70.1 Healthcare 52.4 *Australian Bureau of Statistics (2017)
Aspects of the caring role Independence of the person being cared for Not at all < 1 hour Few hours 1 day Few days More than few days Employed 31.80% 4.50% 27.30% 4.50% 9.10% 22.70% Unemployed 26.30% 10.50% 36.80% 5.30% 15.80% 5.30%
Aspects of the caring role Informal support networks • People who started caring at a young age and cared for many years generally had less support from family and friends than other carers. • Only half of young carers said that there was someone else available to help them care. • This is unsurprising given the isolation young carers often experience due to the demands of their caring role.
Aspects of the caring role Use of formal services • Formal services may result in a reduction of caring responsibilities • However, only half (51%) of the young carer respondents reported that the person they cared for received formal services. 59% 58% 41% 41% Uses formal services Does not use formal service Employed carers Unemployed carers
Aspects of the caring role Impact of formal services on caring role Nearly half (45%) of those who accessed formal services said that they did not reduce their caring role at all. A lot 11% 18% Moderate amount 22% 36% A little 22% 46% Not at all 44% Unemployed carers Employed carers
Aspects of the caring role Comments about formal services There are no current services available to Not enough care hours for the provide support or respite to my dad in times person receiving the care. of crisis other than hospital…I work part time Provides too much stress and and study part time at university and as such strain on the carer, especially a have no time to go through another young carer. application for him. My brother went to a respite home… it was horrible, they didn’t provide any services, would let him wander everywhere at anytime by himself and made him pay for his own food and at one point they just kicked him out...
Working conditions Impact on work
Working conditions Flexible working arrangements 46% 46% 36% 32% 27% 23% 23% 23% 18% 18% 18% 18% 14% 14% 9% 5% 5% 5% 0% 0% Flexible start/finish times Able to leave at short Taking time in lieu Working from home notice Not available and wouldn’t use Not available but would use Don’t know if available Available but not used Available and used
Working conditions Flexible working arrangements 36% 32% 32% 32% 32% 18% 18% 18% 14% 14% 9% 9% 9% 9% 5% Reduced working hours Job sharing Employer supports Not available and wouldn’t use Not available but would use Don’t know if available Available but not used Available and used
Working conditions Carer’s leave Not available and Available and used wouldn’t use 5% 9% Available but not used 19% Not available but would use 19% Don’t know if available 48%
Working conditions Employer knows about caring role Employer knows about caring role Employer does 46% not know about caring role 54%
Working conditions Satisfaction with work/life balance 43% 24% 14% 14% 5% Strongly disagree Disagree Neither Agree Strongly agree
Working conditions Considered quitting 5% 5% 27% 14% Never Rarely Occasionally Fairly often Very often Extremely often 27% 23%
Working conditions Young Carers’ Comments I love my job so much, I'm really lucky to have such a great job at my age. It's honestly so much fun They were great initially until I and so rewarding, even if it is became unwell myself & tiring. needed time off. Now they see me as a constant pain. Unsure of whether to disclose caring role as it's such a heavy thing on someone's shoulders to know…
Recommendations Carers NSW recommends that governments: Encourage employers to Assess young carers’ support 4 invest in flexible working needs when planning for the 1 arrangements individualised funding packages Ensure adequate formal care Fund more tailored supports for 2 services, including respite 5 young carers who are employed, services, are available or seeking employment Fund programs to enhance Remove disincentives to 3 6 young carers’ social undertake paid work whilst networks receiving the Carer Payment
References • Australian Bureau of Statistics (2016) Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia: Summary of findings, 2015, Carer tables, Canberra. • Bray, R. (2012), Young carers in receipt of Carer Payment and Carer Allowance 2001 to 2006: • characteristics, experiences and post-care outcomes, Occasional Paper No. 47, Social Policy Evaluation, Analysis and Research Centre, Australian National University. • Cass, B., Brennan, D., Thomson, C., Hill, T., Purcal, C., Hamilton, M., and Adamson, E. (2011), Young carers: Social policy impacts of the caring responsibilities of children and young adults , Report prepared for ARC Linkage Partners • Deloitte Access Economics (2015), The economic value of informal care in Australia in 2015, Carers Australia, Canberra. • Hill , T., Thomson, C. and Cass, B. (2011), ‘Young Carers: Location, Education and Employment Disadvantage’, Australian Journal of Labour Economics, vol. 14, issue 2, pp. 173-198. To read the full report: Carers NSW (2017) Young Carers: Barriers to accessing employment , Carers NSW, North Sydney, available online at: https://www.carersnsw.org.au/Assets/Files/Young%20Carers_Barriers%20to%20Accessing%20Employ ment.pdf
Freya Saich | Policy and Development Officer freyas@carersnsw.org.au (02) 9280 4744 www.carersnsw.org.au
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