The Carers Advisory Council (the Council) provides advice to the Minister for Community Services on issues affecting carers. The Department of Communities provides executive support to the Council.
The Council meets regularly throughout the year, including hosting regional forums to hear directly from carers.
If you have a concern that you would like to bring to the Council’s attention or would like the Council to visit your community, please email carers@communities.wa.gov.au
Council Members
The Minister appoints up to 10 members who are either carers or have knowledge of matters relevant to carers and those they care for.
- Ms Esme Bowen (Chair): Has held leadership roles in the health, disability, and private sectors, including nursing, health advocacy and community road safety. Has lived experience as a family carer.
- Mr Anton Vis: Former CEO and lawyer, with significant experience in board and executive positions across health, health insurance, disability, and aged care in the not for profit and for profit sectors. Has personal caring experience.
- Ms Gloria Moyle: Currently CEO, Goldfields Women’s Health Care and a strong community advocate for women’s health, rural communities and raising awareness of carers. Has lived experience as a family carer.
- Ms Jenni Perkins: Has had significant policy and planning experience at senior levels in government, community services, disability and aged care. Has lived experience as a family carer.
- Ms Ros Thomas: Has an extensive media career as a successful journalist and author with strong communication and writing skills. Has lived experience as a family carer.
- Ms Carrie Clark: Currently CEO of Kiind (formerly Kalparrin), Western Australian’s largest membership organisation of parents and carers of children with disabilities. Has extensive experience in community development and has lived experience of disability.
- Ms Beatitude Chirongoma: A trained social worker and member of the Australian Association of Social Workers. As a Specialist Support Coordinator, Beatitude works with carers to link them with services to support functional capacity improvement, goal achievement and a better life.
- Ms Kim Hudson: Chair of Spinal WA and committee member of Mandurah Disabled Sport and Recreation Association. Has lived experience as a family carer.
Compliance Reporting
An important role that the Council undertakes is development of an annual report to the Minister on compliance of reporting organisations named in the Carers Recognition Act 2004 (the Act) with the Act and their obligations under the Carers Charter.
The reporting organisations are the Department of Health, Disability Services Commission and public hospitals. Mental Health Commission currently provides a report on a voluntary basis.
Annual Compliance Reports are tabled in parliament.
The council builds working relationships with these organisations and encourages compliance with the Act and the Carers Charter.
