(Brokerage / Respite Contracts)

The Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre may purchase short term, planned or emergency respite for a carer if there are no alternate formal or informal arrangements that can be made to meet the carer need.

The purchase of respite using Centre brokerage funds can only be used when no other funding option is available and can only be for those family members or friends (carers) who provide significant levels of care to a person who is dependent on them with a moderate, severe or profound level of disability.

What We Do

On each contact with the Centre a Coordinator will discuss with the carer, their needs, the reason why respite is required, the urgency of the situation and the type of service that may meet some or all of the expressed needs.

• Prior to agreeing to purchase respite, Coordinators will take into account the following factors:
• The nature and urgency of the situation.
• What ongoing services the carer and/or the person they care for are currently being provided by other services.
• The type of respite and level of assistance that would need to be provided.
• The level of financial assistance already provided by our Centre.
• What the cost of the respite would be.
• The financial ability the carer and/or the person they care for have to either pay for or contribute towards the cost of the service.
• What available financial resources the Centre has at the time of the request.

Priority For Brokerage Funds

• Have difficulties due to their own physical and mental health.
• Are children (under 18 years of age).
• Are caring for more than one person.
• Have additional family responsibilities.
• Are caring for someone whose condition is deteriorating.
• Have limited informal networks.
• Whose relationship with the person being cared for could threaten the health and well-being of either person.
• Have limited access to formal existing services (both community and residential).
• Are least able to be served by existing services.
• Have not used respite previously.
• Are in an emergency situation.

Carers who are a low priority for the use of brokerage funds are:

• Those who have the financial resources to pay for services.
• Those who are able to get adequate services from other organisations.
• Carers who are able to access adequate support from informal sources such as relatives or friend.

Usage of Brokerage Funds

The following factors will be taken into consideration prior to purchasing respite for a carer:

• The respite should directly benefit the carer.
• The respite should make a critical difference to the carer being able to continue in their caring role.
• That respite is short-term planned or for an emergency situation and is not to meet ongoing needs.
• The respite should replace what the carer would normally do for the person they care for.

Funds will not be used to:

• Duplicate existing services or to buy services normally available from existing agencies.
• To pay the carer directly.
• To pay a carer’s family member directly.

NB For us to broker to your service, we require that you have in place:

• A signed Framework Agreement,
• Completed OHS Self Assessment Questionnaire.
• Up-to-date Certificates of Currency for all insurances i.e. Professional Indemnity, Public Liability, and Workers Compensation or Personal Accident Insurance (if Sole Provider).

Without this documentation, which is a minimum requirement, we will be unable to broker to your service.

Also refer to our Framework Agreement.