WALK A MILE IN MY SHOES

Date posted: 
27 June 2005

A National Day of Action by Unpaid Family Carers

Tuesday 13th September 2005

Background

On March 28th 2005 ABC's Four Corners broadcast "The Hidden Army", a documentary detailing the lives of unpaid family carers in Australia. Over 900,000 people throughout Australia viewed this program on the night and ABC research indicated that those who tuned in stayed tuned in. An online Four Corners forum was held following the broadcast and during that forum carers suggested a "day of action" by carers was needed. It was suggested that the action day should be called Old Shoe Day with an invitation extended to Members of Parliament and policy makers to "Walk a Mile in My Shoes" in order to create awareness of the issues that confront unpaid family carers on a daily basis, and in order to initiate change. It should also be noted that many people who interacted on the post broadcast forum were not family carers and they expressed their dismay/disgust at the way unpaid family carers are treated by governments generally.

There were 925 postings to the forum and many e-mail opinions in subsequent mailings. The ABC Four Corners Program is still receiving calls regarding "The Hidden Army". This call for a National Day of Action comes from the "grass roots" - unpaid family carers who are angry at their circumstances and angry that their voice is not being heard or their concerns heeded. Consequently, unpaid family carers from Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia and South Australia have collaborated to get the ball rolling on a National Day of Action.

The Plan of Action

Carer solidarity, strength of numbers, vocality and visibility are the aims of the action day. The central focus of action will take place in Canberra. Based on advice and careful research, that included checking the sitting dates for both houses of the Federal Parliament, Tuesday September 13th will be the day for action. This allows three months prior notice for caring families who wish to make their way to Canberra.

Family carers and their supporters will gather on the lawns directly behind Old Parliament House by 10am. Speakers will address the rally and all Federal politicians will be issued with an invitation to listen to, meet and speak with carers at this rally. All Federal politicians will be presented with the symbol for this rally - a pair of old, worn out shoes - and asked to "walk a mile in my shoes" by carers. It is also proposed to present the Federal Parliament with a National Carers Service Register detailing the years spent in the unpaid care role by individual carers and the amount of money they have saved the Australian community. These will be collated in books of 100 with the following on the cover for example:

This book contains the details of 100 unpaid family carers who have each provided 25 years of unpaid care/ support. This equates to 2500 years of unpaid care/support service provided. At the very conservative estimated cost (based on average cost for supported accommodation provided by paid service providers) of $50,000/year, the total savings generated by these unpaid family carers is $12,500,000.

It will be requested that all documents be tabled and entered into Hansard for posterity. It is recommended that family carers who can make their way to Canberra set up appointments with their local Federal representatives before or after the rally on the Parliamentary lawns in order to personalize the issues faced by family carers. Family carers who cannot make it to Canberra, due to costs, distance or the logistical nightmare that carers face in organising substitute supports for family members, are encouraged to take similar action at their State/ Territory Parliament House - on the same day at the same time.

Carers living in rural/remote areas may also wish to take action via post, e-mail, telephone or fax. We do ask though that if you can, please post a tagged pair of your old shoes to your elected representative at Parliament House in Canberra with a request that they place your shoes in your absence. This background information will accompany flyers and be distributed widely through to service provider networks, Carer groups/associations and the Commonwealth Carer Respite Centres. Service provider, association and brokerage outlets are encouraged to show their support for family carers by adopting a special campaign to "Send a Carer to Canberra". Family carers are encouraged to approach both service providers and Carer Respite Centres for the provision of substitute supports for family members to enable family carers to attend the rally.

What else is needed?

  • Family carers from every State and Territory, lots of unpaid family carers who want change, harnessed and channelled anger, enthusiasm, goodwill, committed service providers and lots of community support to ensure Carers have both Their Day & Their Say.
  • Coordinators/Contact people for Carers Register information in the Northern Territory, Tasmania and the ACT. Contact us below.
  • Reasonably priced accommodation or billets for family carers staying overnight in Canberra. Are their any Service clubs/ Churches in the ACT who can help? If you can help please contact any of the following:
QLD
fmaddison@ozemail.com.au FELICITY MADDISON 07)33599131
NSW
nellbrown@optusnet.com.au NELL BROWN 02)94772288
VIC
jtops@vicaustralis.com.au JEAN TOPS 03)51271904
WA
franklin@abacus.com.au CAROLE FRANKLIN 08)93986329
SA
email@dignity4disabled.com.au

Or contact us walkamile@optusnet.com.au

TAG YOUR SHOES

With your name:
Your age:
With the number of years you have cared:
With the age of the person/people for whom you care:
With the disability of the person/people for whom you care:
Either bring them to Canberra on the day or Post them to your Federal Representative tagged and ask them as your Elected Representative to place them on the lawn with the shoes of other unpaid family carers on the 13th September.

The address is:
Att:.......
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

WE CANNOT UNDER ESTIMATE THE IMPACT OF VAST AMOUNTS OF SHOES LINED ACROSS THE LAWNS OF PARLIAMENT HOUSE. IF WE ALL SEND OUR SHOES TO CANBERRA THE IMPACT WILL BE INCREDIBLE