Hi Felicity les Autres
I like your hypothetical scenario of this hypothetical association. In
fact my example question about respite needs in a questionnaire (see my
last post) was the hypothesised questionnaire that you mention here from
the very association you speak of (hypothetically of course). Did you pick
this up? Or is it just a sad coincidence?
>You are quite correct when you say the right questions aren't being asked.
>So why not? Perhaps a hypothetical scenario may give insight.
>
>There exists a Carers Association, funded by government, to provide support,
>advice and advocacy for unpaid carers(Family and friends) who provide
>support with the activities of daily living to younger people with a
>disability and the frail aged. This is an incorporated Association
>(government won't fund any other kind) and unfortunately the constitution of
>the Association fails to identify carers who meet the above definition as
>the senior partners of this association. This leads to the Association
>being managed, via its Managemnt Committee, by service providers and
>professionals who justify their positions of power by stating that carers
>who do meet the definition are too overworked and overwhelmed by their
>caring role to take part in the management of their Association.
>Governments, collectively, have bestowed credibility on this
>organisation,viewed by them as the representative voice of carers, and
>constantly seek the organisation's advice on carer policy issues. So how do
>they research carers' needs? Simple really. You form a small committee, say
>four people all of whom are service providers. You discuss what carers need
>most and surprise, surprise the answer is more services. You then draft a
>questionnaire to be sent out to carers stating "which of the following
>services do you require most?" Respite, counselling, aroma therapy or
>relaxation classes are the choices offered. There is an overwhelming
>response from carers that respite is required. The Association then tells
>government that carers have identified respite as their priority need,
>indeed their research showed that 97% of carers who responded to the
>questionnaire identified respite as what they needed most. New carer policy
>and funding emanating from government reflects this advice with additional
>dollars being made available for respite, thus ensuring continuity of
>employment for service providers and a continuity of exploitation of family.
>Of course, this is only hypothetical. It really couldn't be happening could
>it?
>
>Regards
>Felicity
>>Ph+ 61 2 9351 9509
>>Fax+ 61 2 9351 9166
>>E-mail [log in to unmask]
>>
>>Note: This is the e-mail address for my home as well
>>
>>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>There is not one shred of evidence that supports the notion that life is
>>serious.
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>>
>>
>>
>
>
With best regards
Laurence Bathurst
University of Sydney
School of Occupation and Leisure Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
East Street (P.O. Box 170)
Lidcombe NSW 1825
Australia
Ph+ 61 2 9351 9509
Fax+ 61 2 9351 9166
E-mail [log in to unmask]
Note: This is the e-mail address for my home as well
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is not one shred of evidence that supports the notion that life is
serious.
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