Carer Lived Experience Statements & example letter format
Your caregiver lived experience statement is your personal account of providing care and support to someone living with a disability and how you navigate and respond to these experiences.
Incorporating a caregiver's lived experience statement is strongly encouraged, as it enriches the participant's evidence. It offers the NDIA valuable insights into your daily experiences as a caregiver and the support that the person you care for requires to fulfill their potential.
To make the process easier for you, we've created a recommended letter format that you can download. This format provides a structured framework, complete with numbered sections, to help you organise your thoughts effectively. Numbering each section is a deliberate choice, ensuring that the NDIA contact person can easily reference your evidence, making your case more compelling and straightforward.
Helpful Tip
From a caregiver's perspective, it's crucial to ensure that your lived experience statement is crystal clear and effectively conveys the effects of caring for an individual living with disability both at home and in the community. This should encompass instances such as when the person you are caring for is fatigued, in unfamiliar company, in noisy environments, experiencing stress, and more.
Your statement should also include what the risks would be if the individual with disability were not provided with support. Include reasons for how their impairments might worsen without adequate support.
