National Respite For Carers Program (NRCP)

What is a carer?

A carer is a person who through family relationship or friendship, looks after a frail older person, someone with a disability, mental illness or chronic illness. Carers look after these people unpaid in their own community or home.

What is Respite?

Caring for someone full time is physically and emotionally demanding. From time to time, carers need to be able to take breaks from their caring. This break is called respite.

What is NRCP?

NRCP is the National Respite for Carers Program. NRCP is one of several initiatives designed to support and assist relatives and friends caring at home for people who are unable to care for themselves because of disability or frailty.

How can NRCP help carers?

The program allows the carer to have a break to look after their own health and well being, with the comfort of knowing that their dependent care well looked after.

What NRCP services are available in Central Australia and the Barkly Region?

There are 7 NRCP funded respite services in Central Australia and Barkly Regions.

Services include:

  • Frontier Services Commonwealth Respite for Carers Program 
    Offers short term low level respite and assistance to unpaid carers inAlice Springs.
  • Frontier Services Troopy Program 
    Offers respite for remote area carers. The service is developed to suitindividual respite needs within each community.
  • Frontier Services Dementia and Frail Aged Program 
    Provides respite on community. The service is responsive to the needs ofindividuals and their communities. The service can employ Indigenousworkers on community and provide training within the aged care anddisability services to enhance respite options and support for carers.
  • Frontier Services Respite Options for Senior Territorians (ROST) Central 
    ROST Central has 2 respite houses.
    • McNair House 
      Respite for senior Territorians in Alice Springs who may havedisordered/confused behaviors. Senior Territorians in Alice Springswaiting to return to their home community can also access the service.McNair house runs a day respite service. McNair House can provideemergency and planned overnight respite.
    • St Vincent Welsh Cottage 
      Provides day respite for carers of seniors in Alice Springs who areemployed or studying. St Vincent Welsh Cottage can provide emergency andplanned overnight respite.
  • Julalikari Council Community Support Services - Respite 
     Offers a day respite service and emergency or planned overnight respite inTennant Creek.
  • Frontier Services Community Care Mutitjulu 
    The centre can offer day respite and overnight planned and emergencyrespite for carers. Day respite includes pick up and drop off. The centreprovides breakfast, lunch and activities during the day in a safe andquiet environment on community.
  • NPY Women's Council Respite Service 
    Provides respite support to carers of frail aged or those withdisabilities in remote communities of the cross border area of NT, SA andWA. A variety of respite options on community or in town are available.

An Australian Government Initiative

 

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