Mr Ajaka said the awards also recognise two outstanding carer support groups that have made an exceptional contribution to caring.
“The NSW Carers Awards provide us with an opportunity to pay tribute to the work of carers and raise awareness about the important role they play in our community,” Mr Ajaka said.
“There are 850,000 carers in New South Wales – one in ten people are looking after a family member or a friend who has disability, a mental illness, a chronic health condition or are frail aged.”
Access Economics estimates that nationally, carers provide 1.32 billion hours of care each year saving the Australian taxpayer $40 billion annually.
2013 Carer of the Year: Anne NaylorAnne Naylor has four adult children, three of whom need care.
Her eldest son has Down Syndrome, autism, dyspraxia, mild hearing loss and sleep apnoea. Anne provides all of his personal daily care and advocates on his behalf as he moves into adulthood.
Another child has bipolar disorder and two have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and Anne provides them with practical and emotional support as they navigate through life.
Anne educates others about caring for children with disability. She is a carer representative with Carers NSW and she has spoken on radio and written newspaper articles about her caring experience. Anne has bipolar and has recently published a book, Art From Adversity: A Life With Bipolar, which describes her experience of living with a mental illness while caring for children with disability.
Anne educates others about caring for children with disability. She is a carer representative with Carers NSW and she has spoken on radio and written newspaper articles about her caring experience. Anne has bipolar and has recently published a book, Art From Adversity: A Life With Bipolar, which describes her experience of living with a mental illness while caring for children with disability.
Anne also draws on her personal experiences to deliver an annual lecture to medical students, at the University of Sydney, about a parent’s response to the birth of a child with disability.
Anne has completed a Masters in Special Education and is an accredited interpreter.
Anne has completed a Masters in Special Education and is an accredited interpreter.
Among the ten carers on the Highly Commended list for the awards, was Anne Burgess from Yass who was born with her own disability, is devoted to caring for her 55-year-old sister who has Down Syndrome and is partially blind. Anne was also primary carer for her late father who sadly passed away a couple of months ago aged 97 and her mother who had cancer.
Our congratulations to Anne Naylor and all of those recognised in the awards.
See more at about the 2013 NSW Carers Awards on the Ageing, Disability and Home Care website
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