Submission on the draft Carers’ Strategy Action Plan

We ask that carers of people living with rare disorders are explicitly named and considered in the Carers’ Strategy Action Plan. The Ministry of Health’s 2024 Aotearoa New Zealand Rare Disorders Strategy acknowledges that “there are unique experiences that the rare disorders community face when accessing the health and social sector”.

The Rare Disorders Strategy sets out how the health system will work to improve outcomes for people and whānau living with rare disorders and requires that those involved in designing, commissioning or providing new policies or services routinely consider the needs of people with rare disorders.

The Carers’ Strategy Action Plan is an opportunity for the social sector to pick up on this directive and ensure that carers in the rare disorder community are considered, recognised and planned for.

Read our full submission here.