Gold Coast Greens Candidates for the State Election on Saturday today called for a major increase in support for carers of people with disabilities on the Gold Coast.

Greens candidate for Albert, Marella Pettinato, pointed out that despite the existence of a number of community care services on the Coast, most caring of people with disabilities and frail older people is still provided by family members.

"Many of these people are elderly or have disabilities themselves and the Government provides very little in terms of support or respite" she said.

"While many community care agencies do a very good job, more resources should be provided to the carers so they can decide what sort of support they receive" she added.

"Carers have big problems accessing respite services in both Coomera and Beenleigh according to local service providers" Ms Pettinato pointed out.

"The problem is not just respite services but having transport to get to them. I have heard of one family who have no way of getting their daughter to a respite service so she spends her day pushing a stroller up and down her street and sometimes yells at people in her frustration" Marella explained. "This has lead to her parents becoming stressed, isolated and, at times, unwell so the whole family is suffering.

There are no disability services for their daughter in Upper Coomera.

"I am appalled at stories like this and will push the Government hard to increase support for such families. With the huge population growth in the Coomera“ Beenleigh corridor and the lack of suitable services this problem is going to get bigger and bigger unless the Government starts to take this issue seriously" said Ms Pettinato.

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