Carers who feel "invisible" would be recognised in a new bill proposed by Labor backbencher Suzanne Orr.
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Ms Orr became emotional as she put forward the Carers Recognition Act in the Assembly on Wednesday afternoon, which she said would "improve the health and wellbeing" of carers.
The bill would set out a set of principles for people in care relationships, including those who look after people with a disability, a mental illness, an ongoing medical condition and the elderly. It would also recognise foster carers.
The principles would set out that carers need to be respected as an individual with their own needs and be supported during changes to the care relationship and recognised.
The bill would also place obligations on on carer support agencies to uphold these principles.
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"Carers are some of the most selfless people in our community who work very hard supporting those within our community who need care," Ms Orr said.
"The work of carers is generally unrecognised and carers themselves often do not receive the support they need to carry out their caring responsibilities or to look after themselves."
Ms Orr spoke about her parents who were foster parents when she was growing up. She became emotional when she read out a statement given by her mum on what the bill meant to her.
"In putting together this bill I had many conversations with my mum and dad. Asking them what they had seen change over the decades they had been advocating for carers," she said.
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