Add your voice to our 2024 State of Caring survey !

Carers Info Pack

Welcome to Carers NZ, the national network for family, whānau, and aiga carers.

The items in our carer infopack will help you:

  • Learn about the types of support available from government and community organisations, and how to access them
  • Explore Family Care, a quarterly publication for carers you may wish to receive regularly
  • Keep you informed about issues and developments important to carers
  • Proactively plan respite breaks and time out each day
  • Complete an Emergency Care Plan
  • Stay fit and well
  • And lots more!

In Your Info Pack

Here is what is in your Info Pack. Download all at once or as single resources.

We Are Not Machines

Every family, whānau, and aiga carer knows their role can be rewarding, but that it is also often uniquely demanding. Most carers have other responsibilities too and juggling these with providing care can be hugely challenging.

Stress is an inevitability in these situations, however, if it starts to build, as it so often does, it can become harder to cope with and eventually lead to burnout.

Tricia Hendry has created ‘We Are Not Machines’ to address these issues. A free, useful resource that examines carer burnout, tips and tools on what helps prevent it, and ways to recover.

Download here

Emergency Care Planning

Carers often worry about what would happen to the person(s) they support if an emergency or similar comes up. Having an emergency plan is an important step.

Carers NZ has created a suite of Emergency Planning Tools:

  • Emergency Care Plan
  • Important Papers Checklist
  • Medications Care Plan
  • Emergency Carer ID Card

Keep in an easily located place, and update it regularly. Talk about the plan with the person(s) you care for, if possible, and with family / friends who are your emergency contacts. These tools are also applicable for anyone self-managing health or disability needs.

Download here

Strength for Life with Wayne Halkyard

Build your Strength to Care Better!

If you want to build your strength to care better and prevent injuries, try national bodybuilding champion Wayne Halkyard’s easy to follow 15 minute Strength for Life program.

Download here

Take 1 Minute, Take 5 Planner

Plan the breaks you need!

Our Take 1 Minute, Take 5 Planner is designed to help family carers proactively plan regular respite breaks.

Designed to work with the Time Out Guide this planner helps make taking breaks easy!

Download here

Time Out Guide

Get the breaks you need!

Our Time Out resource is designed to help family carers proactively plan regular respite breaks.

It’s based on feedback from hundreds of carers to an online survey undertaken by Carers NZ!

Download here

A Guide For Carers

A Government Resource

Every family carer should read the Government’s Guide for Carers.

Guide for Carers has practical information to help whānau, āiga and carers who assist family members and friends with a health condition, a disability, or a physical or mental illness. It includes information on services and supports available for carers.

Download here