Chapter 1: Introduction
Review Taskforce
On 23 March 2007, the Australian Government announced a wide-ranging review of Carer Payment (child) to examine eligibility for the payment and its effectiveness in providing a safety net for carers of children with severe disability or medical conditions. The review was conducted by an independent Taskforce appointed by the former Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, the Hon. Mal Brough.
The Carer Payment (child) Review Taskforce was chaired by Mr Anthony Blunn AO, and its members were:
- Mr Brian Babington,
- Mr Byron Davis,
- Professor Stewart Einfeld,
- Ms Lois Gatley,
- Mr Michael Gourlay,
- Ms Cate McKenzie,
- Professor Frank Oberklaid,
- Ms Elizabeth Robinson, and
- Ms Linda Webb OAM.
Biographical details of Taskforce members appear at Appendix A.
The Taskforce met on five occasions between 10 May and 22 November 2007, and its work was supported by a secretariat located within the Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaCSIA).
Terms of reference
Carer Payment is an income support payment for carers who, because of the demands of their caring role, are unable to support themselves through substantial participation in the workforce. The payment is income and assets tested.
Carer Payment (child) is available to carers in respect of children under 16 years of age.
The Carer Payment (child) Review Taskforce was required to examine the eligibility criteria for Carer Payment (child) and consider the effectiveness of the payment in providing a safety net for carers of children with severe disability or medical conditions.
The Taskforce was required to report to government no later than 30 November 2007.
In considering these issues the Taskforce was asked to:
- Engage with the community and key stakeholders through the development of a discussion paper and public submission process, and other relevant consultative activities, to establish the range of concerns held in the community about accessing Carer Payment (child).
- Identify the challenges and critical role for carers of children with significant care needs, which go beyond the expectations of the caring role of a parent of a child who does not have a severe disability or medical condition.
- Determine the most appropriate mechanism for assessing the care requirements of children under 16 years with severe illness and/or disability, including examining options for amending the existing carer and medical eligibility criteria to reflect current medical, technological and carer approaches and practice.
- Compare the circumstances of carers of children under 16 years with severe illness or disability that currently qualify for the payment with recent cases which have not qualified, drawing on Carer Payment (child) and Carer Allowance (child) application, eligibility and recipient data and case studies.
- Consider the relationship of Carer Payment (child) to other income support payments and government financial assistance, including the possible need for short-term financial assistance in some circumstances.
- Develop advice to the government on practical and cost-effective options to extend Carer Payment (child) to provide an effective safety net for carers of children with severe disability or illness.
This report examines each of the terms of reference and makes recommendations for improvements to Carer Payment (child).
Documents associated with this report
A suite of documents has been produced as a result of the review. In addition to this report, these documents include:
- a discussion paper developed to assist with consultation activities;
- the Review of Carer Payment (child) Report on the Consultations, which is an overview of the review’s submissions and focus group activities prepared by the Social Policy Research Centre at the University of New South Wales;
- the Review of Carer Payment (child) Statistical Compendium provides information on children with disabilities and their carers and the Carer Payment and Carer Allowance population which is an analysis of relevant Australian Bureau of Statistics data and Centrelink administrative data; and
- Carers’ Storybook a compilation of carer stories published by FaCSIA.