SOCIAL worker and mother-of-two Anne Funke has been named NSW Carer of the Year by the Minister for Ageing and Disability Services, John Ajaka.
Mrs Funke is a carer's advocate, volunteer NSW vice-president of the Australian Angelman Syndrome Association and P&C president at Caroline Chisholm Special School at Padstow.
She cares for her son Mitchell, 18, who has Angelman syndrome and requires 24-hour care.
Mrs Funke holds three jobs and rarely has time to herself. "We get respite one weekend every six or so weeks, which isn't a lot, but enough to recharge the batteries," she said.
"The big thing for carers is having access to respite which comes down to availability of staff and funding for respite services."
Angelman Syndrome is a neurological disorder caused by a missing section of chromosome 15.
Common characteristics include intellectual disability, delayed or no speech, jerky walking and happy demeanour. There is no cure but children can benefit from physical therapy, special education and behaviour modification.
"Mitchell's condition is challenging but he has brought us so much joy and he's a very funny and social person."
There are more than 857,000 carers in NSW of whom more than 100,000 are under 25. Mr Ajaka said without carers, many would not be able to stay in their home and participate in the community.
The manager of the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District carers program, Janice Oliver, nominated Mrs Funke for the award.
The program raises awareness of the condition.
