A new counselling service offered through the Goldfields Women’s Health Care Centre funded by Carers Western Australia hopes to provide extra support to carers.

A carer is a person who looks after someone who has a disability, is frail aged or has a mental or chronic illness. It can be stressful; often causing thoughts, feelings and behaviours which can be difficult to manage.

GWHCC board member Jo Russell is the primary carer for her adult son and young daughter, who are both autistic.

She said she applauded the centre for making this counselling service available.

“My daughter has very erratic sleeping patterns because of her autism and it can be very tiring,” Mrs Russell said. “The thing with caring is that the world doesn’t stop, so when things become overwhelming it is important to know there is someone you can talk to.

Mrs Russell described the counsellor, Sandi Hayes, as having a wealth of experience and a list of qualifications “as long as your arm”.