Birgit Meinhard-Schiebel Austrian Carer’s Association Working FOR and WITH informal carers

Content of Presentation  Situation in Austria  Aims of the Austrian Carers’ Association  Organization of the Association  Events and Milestones  Publicity  Website and Folder  Five Claims from Politics 2

Situation in Austria  5% of the population gets care allowance from the government  Informal carers provide 80% of care

Situation in Austria  Approx. 20% of the concerned families benefit from care and social services  42% of the caregivers reported that they can not afford community services (i.e. home care)

Why should caregivers team up? A platform that acts for carers and lobbies for their requests is necessary. 5

Aims of the Austrian Carers’ Association  Improving carers’ living situation  Raising awareness for the social relevance, burden and challenges of informal caregivers  Raising appraisal and appreciation of carers’ effort 6

Aims of the Austrian Carers’ Association  Identification of supply gaps and lobbying for improvements  Establishment of informal carers as an political relevant group 7

Organization of the Association  Board of directors  Advisory board  Regional coordinators Board of Directors Advisory Board Regional coordinators

Board of Directors  6 members -president -recording clerk -treasurer and their deputies  Leading tasks 9 Board of Directors Advisory Board Regional coordinators

Advisory Board  Approx. 20 members  Personalities from science, practise and business  Tasks: -Counselling the board of directors -Information carrier and multiplicator at events 10 Board of Directors Advisory Board Regional coordinators

Regional Coordinators  12 coordinators in 8 states  Main tasks: -Connector to local politicians and agencies -Representative at events -In direct contact with informal carers -Research of community based services 11 Board of Directors Advisory Board Regional coordinators

Office  National head office  Contact point for organs of association, members and interested persons  Located at the headquarters of the Austrian Red Cross in Vienna

Memberships legal / nat. person full / supporting membership membership fee naturalfull20 € p. year legalfull - small associations (max. 3 employees) 70 € p. year legalfull – big associations270 € p. year natural or legalsupporting members> € p. year

Events and Milestones  Event pre Foundation 11/2009  Inaugural Meeting 01/2010  Entry in Register of Associations 04/2010  Launch of Website05/2010  1 st Press Conference 05/2010  1 st Meeting of Coordinators08/2010  1 st Meeting of Advisory Board09/2010  2 nd Press Conference03/2011  1 st Annual Conference03/2011  1 st General Meeting 03/

Publicity  Two press conferences  Several articles in magazines and newspapers  Interviews on the radio  Representation at events  Networking 15

Information www. ig-pflege.at Folder 16

Five Claims from Politics 1.Implementation of annual valorisation of care allowances 2.Creation of independent information centres for persons in need of care and their carers all over the country 3.Relief and support of caregivers by extension of achievable services 17

Five Claims from Politics 4.Development of measurements for an improved compatibility of informal care and job 5.Acceptance of the Carers’ Association as special interest group from the government (on regional, state and national levels) 18

Thank you for your attention! Birgit Meinhard-Schiebel President of the Austrian Carers’ Association