By Callum Ludwig
The responsibility of being a carer doesn’t always leave much room for respite, but an initiative from the Yarra Centre in Yarra Junction is providing an opportunity for carers to relax and recuperate.
While you’d be hard-pressed to find a carer who wouldn’t do everything they can to help their person in need, some time away is necessary to help prevent burnout and strain.
Community Engagement and Inclusion Coordinator at the Yarra Centre Sandra Kelly said Feel Good Fridays will open up the centre for free to carers.
“Pre-Covid we used to have a carers program running and then coming back from all of that, we looked at relaunching it,” she said.
“But due to the fact that lots of carers need flexibility around times, we decided instead of having a set time each week, that we just open up one day a week where they can come in for free and use the whole centre.”
Feel Good Fridays will be a great opportunity for carers to connect and socialise and perhaps offer each other advice and support.
Ms Kelly said it s important because often carers don’t get a lot of respite from those they are looking after.
“Everyone that participated in the carers program has really enjoyed it, they love the fact that it gives them somewhere or something to do that’s not with all the focus on the person that they’re looking after,” she said.
“Hopefully with us open for free on a Friday it gives them something to do, even if it’s just to come for a coffee and a chat.”
Carers will have full access to the pool and gym as well as any group fitness classes they would like to attend. They can even join in on the table tennis in the morning.
Ms Kelly said she is more than happy to answer any questions carers have.
“We are more than happy for them to work at their own pace and there’s plenty of support through the staff to get them started as well, if there’s something in particular that they want to do,” she said.
“We’ve only relaunched it over the last couple of weeks, so we still want to get the word out there and try to build some numbers so that there is that opportunity for carers to connect with other people in the community.”
For more info, call 5967 1675 or email skelly@yarracentre.com.au.
