Dona's story - a working carer
When Donna Smith was growing up her mother cared for her. Now the roles are reversed and Donna is caring for her mother. And in a further example of the passing down of the caring role within families, Donna’s daughter is also helping with the care of her grandmother. This is Donna’s story.

Donna Smith is an indigenous woman caring for her ageing mother who lives nearby and is the mother of two teenagers who live at home with her. Donna is the office administrator for an indigenous organisation, Shared Vision Wula Wula Nga Information and Access Centre. The service was established in 1995 to improve access to services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from government and non-government agencies.

Donna has been caring for her mother for many years now and has never thought of herself as a working carer.

“It’s just what I’ve got to do,” she said.

She coped with juggling work and care with help from an understanding boss until her mother suffered a stroke. Since then her mother has become more unstable on her feet so Donna has to help her attend medical appointments, with shopping, meals and household tasks.

“She depends on me more now,” Donna said. “She gets upset going to the eye specialist for example. I have to be there with her.”

Donna said her boss remains understanding now that her mother needs her more.

“If mum needs me I’m allowed to go. My boss knows I’m the main carer for Mum and is really understanding. As long as my work gets done it’s OK. I think I’ve got it pretty good here. If things get hard I take holiday leave.”

Even so, Donna said she does feel the strain.

“I always manage to keep up with my work, but I take a lot of work home. I make up the time by starting early or taking work home. When you get time off you still feel guilty. I should be at the office, (I think); you always worry.”

Until her mother had the stroke Donna hadn’t needed help from carer services and is finding out that some services are expensive and that her mother doesn’t always qualify for help.

“I found some services hard to get,” she said.

Donna thinks she has missed out because she is on hand to help her mother.

“I didn’t fit the criteria. I felt because I had done it for Mum I missed out.”

Donna also said that because she has an income from work she feels guilty asking for help.

“It’s hard to ring and ask for help, when you know there’s someone worse off,” she said.

Happily Donna’s mother gets support from a service run by her employer, Shared Vision.

“Mum gets her lawn mown through the Elders Support program,” Donna said.

However she wishes she could receive some more assistance.

“I want help in the home for my mother. I’d love someone to help with the housework and the washing.”

Donna said she realises that, as the only daughter, her mother wants help from her and not Donna’s brothers and extended family members who do assist her where they can. She also receives support from her own daughter who helps with household chores.

Overall however, she accepts her role.

“I just do it now. You deal with it because you have to. I don’t mind.”