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Media Release From: Carers NSW 

More support for Ageing Carers

The new measures for ageing carers announced by the Prime Minister today are another step forward for some of our longest serving carers and for carers generally.

In launching Carers Week at Parliament House today, the Prime Minister, along with Minister Patterson and Ministor Bishop, has provided a new package of measures based around assets and providing for the ongoing care and accommodation needs of people with a severe disability.

Trusts, with assets up to $500,000, established solely to provide for the care and accommodation needs of a person with a severe disability will be exempt from the social security and veterans' affairs means test

Gifting rules on pensions will be waived so such assets can be put in trusts

A mediation and counselling service will be established for families to reach agreement over such private arrangements.

An information package on future care will be developed to assist parents with a son or daughter with severe disabilities

Further research will be undertaken to gather information about the needs of carers in relation to the future care and support of their sons and daughters.

In her response to the Prime Minister, Ms Louise Gilmore, the President of Carers Australia said "This will be particularly welcomed by carers who have sufficient assets and a very deep concern for the ongoing care of their sons and daughters after they are gone.

"It is also another step forward for all carers in our quest for recognition of the role we play in keeping families and communities together."

Contacts: Louise Gilmore, 02 6122 9900 13 October 2005

Carers Australia, PO Box 73, DEAKIN WEST ACT 2600, Australia

Ph: 02 6122 9900 Fax: 02 6122 9999 Email: caa@carersaustralia.com.au www.carersaustralia.com.au

Carers Australia is the peak national advocacy body for 2.6 million people of all ages providing care for family members or friends with a disability, mental illness, chronic condition or who are frail aged.

Editor's Note: The above package will be helpful to some HKA members in that it intends to remove Trusts established for the severely disabled from the gifting rules under the Social Security Pension Means Test. However, the information package and other details are not yet available, and could take some months. We will try to keep you informed on progress.