Celebrity chef Matt Golinski has shown his support for a campaign close to his heart in an effort to raise awareness for carers of people with a disability or illness.
Taking to social media, the Noosa-based chef posted a photo wearing a t-shirt in support of the Who Cares movement.
“Having been on the receiving end of a lot of care at a tough point in my life, I can appreciate all the unsung heroes out there – caring for their loved ones at home with a disability or illness with no pay or time off,” Mr Golinski said.
The social media movement is an initiative of The Carers Foundation, a Queensland charity that works to prevent health crisis breakdowns and compassion fatigue in carers.
The Carers Foundation founding Director Ronnie Benbow told Sunshine Coast News the charity provided wellness programs to unpaid family carers from as young as age 12, at no cost to them.
“Our mission is to advocate for unpaid family carers of all ages in the community by providing unique health restoration programs to support emotional, physical and mental wellbeing at no cost to them,” Ms Benbow said.
“We care for carers.”
As a registered nurse, Ms Benbow knows professionally and personally the relentless demands and debilitating stress that family carers endure daily.
Always wanting to begin this endeavour, her vision was put on hold when she became the carer for her husband, Michael, after a near fatal accident left him paralysed from the neck down.
During this time, the couple personally funded carer wellness programs for 15 years at a private retreat north west of Brisbane.
“I identified the increasing need to support family carers and to address the issue on a larger scale, since there is no specific funding available for carer respite, nor a centre specifically for carers.”
Eventually Ms Benbow established The Carers Foundation in 2015.
Ms Benbow, who was a Queensland Australian of the Year 2021 finalist, said the Who Cares movement was instigated in 2020 after fundraising events were cancelled due to Covid.
“I decided it was too insensitive to ask for money since so many were struggling and started an awareness campaign since The Carers Foundation was relatively unknown.
“The importance was to highlight the hidden carers in our communities, and raise awareness for The Carers Foundation with the question ‘who cares?’
“Carers selflessly give up their entire lives to care for their loved one, adversely affecting their own health and wellness since they do not have the time or resources to care for themselves.”
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Ms Benbow said the charity had seen children as young as eight in a caring role, which can have a significant impact on their mental health as they develop into adults.
“Carers have to be on call 24/7 and deal with very stressful situations every day.
“No pay, no compensation, no time off. Some of the carers we see have not had a day off for 20 years.”
Ms Benbow said having people like Matt Golinksi onboard was wonderful to raise awareness for the charity’s work.
“Matt is such an inspirational, kind giving man and we were absolutely thrilled when he decided to join our Who Cares movement.
“He truly understands the significance of caring and that is reflected in all he does for the community.”
Locals can join the movement by purchasing a t-shirt through thecarersfoundation.org/who-cares-campaign.
