The together program provides opportunities for existing and new support groups (for carers of people with disability in New South Wales) to be linked in with each other and an organisation to receive some assistance. The together: Support groups for carers of people with a disability in NSW program came about through an unmet need for a funded, coordinated, state-wide network of support groups for carers of people living with disability. The together program is centrally managed by Carers NSW and funded by the NSW Department of Family and Community Services, Ageing, Disability and Home Care. The together program provides: * Structured support to support groups for carers of people with disability, including training, education and support for the facilitator. * Funding to assist with some group costs that can include venue hire, administration, resources and guest speakers. * Central coordination of support groups for carers of people with disability. * Capacity building for organisations working with support groups for carers of people with disability. The together program seeks to address the needs of support groups for carers of people with disability that are unmet by other programs funded by other sources in New South Wales. www.togethersupportgroups.net.au

1. Poster board (adapted)
Carers NSW 2015 Biennial Conference

2. The together Poster Board was
presented at the Carers NSW 2015
Biennial Conference on May 21st and
22nd at Novotel Olympic Park, Sydney.
This information is now available to
view as a slideshow presentation.
Click to continue

3. • The together program provides opportunities for existing and new
support groups (for carers of people with disability in New South
Wales) to be linked in with each other and an organisation to
receive some assistance.
• The together: Support groups for carers of people with a disability
in NSW program came about through an unmet need for a funded,
coordinated, state-wide network of support groups for carers of
people living with disability.
• The together program is centrally managed by Carers NSW and
funded by the NSW Department of Family and Community Services,
Ageing, Disability and Home Care.

4. The together program provides:
• Structured support including education and training for group
facilitators.
• Funding to support group sustainability including venue hire,
administration, resources and guest speakers.
• Central coordination of carer support groups.
• Capacity building for organisations working with support
groups for carers of people with disability.

5. 260
CARER SUPPORT GROUPS
CONNECTED TO THE
TOGETHER PROGRAM
ACROSS NEW SOUTH WALES

6. 20RAOs across NSW
CARER SUPPORT GROUPS
ARE CONNECTED TO A LOCAL
REGIONAL ASSISTING ORGANISATION
TO SUPPORT AND NURTURE LINKS AT
LOCAL AND REGIONAL LEVEL

7. NOT ALL
CARER SUPPORT GROUPS
ARE THE SAME

8. Not all Carer Support Groups are the same!
8

9. • Craft Groups
• Walking Groups
• Singing Groups
• Café Groups
• Social Groups
• Ukulele Groups
Registered Groups include:

10. SEED FUNDING
TO ASSIST THE GROUPS
SUSTAINABILITY
The together program provides:

11. • The together program can provide financial assistance to some
registered carer support groups. Small funds are provided as a
contribution to group running costs. The amount of funding
provided to a group is based on local need rather than a fixed
amount.
• Financial assistance to groups registered with the together
program aims to assist carer support groups to become self-
sustaining into the future.
Financial Assistance

12. Funding can be used for:
Think outside the box

13. What Facilitators Want – together support
82%
82%
52%
Access to resources for facilitators to use with group
Up-to-date information in regards to changes to
policy, services, and entitlements
Organised training workshops for facilitators

14. Emerging Carer Issues in together groups
78%
69%
56%
Supporting the mental health and wellbeing of carers
Carers and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
How to sustain the group under the together program
January 2015 survey sent to 173 facilitators. 36% completion rate (n=63)

15. Education and Training
Highlights

16. FACILITATOR FORUM
ANNUAL FORUM BRINGING FACILITATORS
TOGETHER
The together program hosts an annual forum for facilitators of
together groups in Sydney. The forum provides an opportunity for
sharing, knowledge exchange and networking with other carer
support group facilitators. Guest speakers talk on a range of topics,
including developing advocacy strategies in your carer support
group, carer support groups and the introduction of the NDIS, and
the importance of self-care for facilitators.

17. FACILITATOR TELE-MEETINGS
SUPPORT GROUPS FOR THE FACILITATOR
Monthly tele-meetings enable facilitators to talk openly about the
facilitation of their groups and discuss ways to overcome group
challenges. The peer support from other carer support group
facilitators connects participants from all corners of the state.

18. The together Education and Training program provides educational
workshops to established and commencing Carer Support Groups across
all 16 NSW Local Health Districts in the past three (3) years.
Workshops have included:
• Setting Up A Carer Support Group
• Carer Support Groups: A workshop for facilitators
FACILITATOR WORKSHOPS

19. WORKSHOP FEEDBACK
• Networking opportunity was also "GOLD"
• I look forward to using the knowledge I've gained today
• This has better prepared me for supporting carers, now
feel more confident facilitating the group
• Facilitators were great and learnt a lot from the group
participants and their experiences.
• Interactive and thought provoking.

20. For further information go to
www.togethersupportgroups.org.au
or call 1800 242 636