We’ve in danger of outsourcing care in Australia.
PICTURE: shironosov/iStockphoto
Once in Australia there were few community services, charities and caring concerns. Families looked after their own. Neighbours called on each other. Communities rallied around a cause, and churches did the heavy lifting of charity.
As we’ve got richer, we’re become specialised. We’ve developed nursing homes, disability services, day care centres – all very good. But one of the side effects of this is – we’ve outsourced care. Some of us can get through the whole of life without ever having to care for anyone, and, with that goes our capacity for compassion.
Care becomes a profession; paid per hour. Maybe it’s time to slow down. Add a little care back into your life – for your children, elderly parents, friends, neighbours. We don’t want to be people who don’t care.
Paul Clark’s musings can be heard on radio across Australia and at atthetop.org.au.
