THE selfless generosity of Victoria’s 700,000 carers will be marked this Sunday with a celebration walk at Maribyrnong’s Coulson Gardens.
Ambassador Moira Kelly (pictured) says Carers Victoria’s inaugural Walk to Care is a chance to reflect on “these extraordinary people”.
“They are under enormous mental, emotional and often physical strain,” she said. “It’s a 24-hour-a-day labour of love.”
As the adoptive mother of originally conjoined twins, Trishna and Krishna, and Emmanuel and Ahmed – both with disabilities – Ms Kelly, the 2003 and ’04 Victorian of the Year, says a smile and acknowledgement can mean the world to a carer.
“It can be a very lonely thing,” she says. “We think we shouldn’t discuss our needs.”
Australian Unity Wellbeing Index research in 2007, measuring how satisfied Australians are with their lives, found carers had the lowest ‘wellbeing’ of any large group.
The smallest thing can make the biggest difference and a little kindness can go a long way. “Don’t underestimate a kind word; it gives you a real lift as a carer,” Ms Kelly said.
Carers Victoria CEO Caroline Mulcahy said there were 2.6 million unpaid carers in Australia. “The average time spent caring per week is 40 hours — the equivalent of a full-time job minus any entitlements.”
This care would cost governments more than $40 billion to replace.
Walk to Care is a leisurely four-kilometre walk, followed by entertainment. Registrations open at 8.30am and the walk begins at 11am. Register at: walktocare.com.au —Benjamin Millar
