Ms Cathy Thomson

Overview

Cathy Thomson, BA Syd., MA UNSW, Research Fellow, SPRC, has extensive experience conducting research in the areas of community services, children's services and carer issues. She has worked closely with Commonwealth and State Departments and community organisations in the evaluation of the provision and coordination of community services. She has been responsible for the conduct and management of primary research projects. She has highly developed research skills including a sound understanding of qualitative and quantitative research methods. Cathy has commenced post-graduate study and her PhD will focus on carers and the cost of care in an ageing society.

Carers and the costs of care in an ageing society

Demographic and policy changes have, on the one hand, increased the demand for informal care, while on the other, resulted in a reduction in the pool of current and future informal carers. The physical and emotional demands placed on carers and the negative health and quality of life consequences is well documented. However, providing support for a disabled frail aged spouse, parent or relative involves both direct and indirect costs for carers. Indirect costs are costs associated with spending time caring rather than participating in education, employment or leisure. Direct costs include the additional expenditures associated with caring for the person with the disability, such as increased transport, communication and home modification costs. The aim of the research is to estimate the direct costs of informal care for frail older people and those with disabilities aged over 60 years research using a mixed method. The outcomes of the research will contribute significantly to the debates and policy responses about how to best to support informal carers to meet the costs associated with caring.

Publications

Recent Journal Articles
valentine, k. and Thomson, C. (2009), ‘Improving processual quality in early education and care: process findings from the evaluation of Benevolent Society’s Partnerships in Early Education Program?’, Australian Journal of Early Childhood, 34 (1), 53-61.

valentine, k., Thomson, C. (2009), Antcliff, G, ‘Early childhood services and support for vulnerable families’, Australian Journal of Social Issues, 44 (2), 195-213.

Hill, T., Thomson, C., Bittman, M. and Griffiths, M. (2008), 'What kinds of jobs help carers combine care and employment?', Family Matters, 80, 27-32.

Hill, T., Fisher, K., Thomson, C. and Bittman, M., (2007), 'Caregivers and community service non-use in Australia', in Paoletti, I. (ed), Family Caregiving of Older Disabled People: Relational and Institutional Issues, Nova Science, New York.

Bittman, M., Hill, T. and Thomson, C. (2007), 'The impact of caring on informal carer's employment, income and earnings: a longitudinal approach', Australian Journal of Social Issues, 42 (2), 255-272.

Fisher, K.R., Thomson, C. and k. valentine, (2006), 'The implementation of Families First NSW: Process lessons, from the first four years', Australian Journal of Early Childhood, 31 (1): 11-9.

valentine, k., Fisher K.R. and Thomson, C. (2006), 'Making integration happen: the Families First policy experience', Child Abuse Review, 15 (6), 414-28.

Brodaty, H., Thomson, C. Thompson C. and Fine, M. (2005) 'Caregivers of people with dementia and memory loss: reasons for service non-use', International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 20, 537-546.

Bittman, M., Fisher, K. Hill, T. and Thomson, C. (2005), 'The time cost of adult care', eIJTUR: electronic International Journal of Time Use Research, 2 (1), 54-66.

Recent Consultancy Reports
Muir, K., Katz, I., Purcal, C., Patulny, R., Flaxman, S., Abelló, D., Cortis, N., Thomson, C., Oprea, I., Wise, S., Edwards, B., Gray, M. And Hayes, A. (2009), ‘National evaluation (2004-2008) of the Stronger Families and Communities Strategy 2004-2009', FaHCSIA Occasional Paper No. 24, Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia.

Hill, T., Smyth, C., Thomson, C. and Cass, B. Young Carers: Their Characteristics and Geographical Distribution (PDF), report Prepared for the National Youth Affairs Research Scheme (NYARS), Canberra.

Thomson, C., and valentine, k., 'Partnerships in early childhood project: final report on data collection round 1: process evaluation', SPRC Report 8/07, prepared for the Benevolent Society, May 2007.

Thomson, C., Longden, T., Harrison, L., and valentine, k., 'Partnerships in early childhood project, final report on data collection round 1', SPRC Report 7/07, prepared for the Benevolent Society, May 2007