Kim Repcak has spent more than 25 years walking alongside carers, and her dedication shines through in every part of her work. Her career began as a social worker, supporting families of children with disability through Disability Services. She then spent a decade coordinating carer support groups at Vision Australia, followed by another ten years leading a peer support program at Multiple Sclerosis Plus. These roles shaped her deep understanding of the challenges carers face and the extraordinary strength they show every day.
One moment that has stayed with her came from a carer who said, “This group is like looking in a mirror – I have never met anyone else who can relate to what I am going through.” For Kim, this perfectly captures the power of connection. Carer Support Groups don’t just offer information; they offer understanding, validation, and a sense of belonging that can be life changing. As a carer herself, supporting her 85 year old mum, Kim knows how important it is to stay connected and look after your own wellbeing.
Kim’s Role as a Carer Educator
In her current role as a Carer Educator at Carers Victoria, Kim delivers workshops designed to strengthen carer wellbeing and confidence. These sessions cover topics such as understanding services and supports, caring for yourself, setting strong boundaries, and developing assertiveness. A new workshop on creating an emergency care plan is already proving valuable for many carers. Carers can register for these sessions online, and Carer Support Groups can request a workshop by contacting Carers Victoria directly.
Kim also helps coordinate the Carers Ask an Expert program, where specialists present on key topics and answer questions submitted by carers. The next session focuses on housing options for people with disability, with Scope as the guest speaker is on the 25th of February. Register via this link.
Strengthening Carer Support Groups
Supporting Carer Support Groups is another major part of Kim’s work. Carers Victoria offers facilitator training for carers who want to start or co-lead a group (next session is on 24 and 31 March 2026), along with capacity building workshops throughout the year. Facilitators can also access one to one phone support through the CSG Volunteer Advisory Service, and the online CSG Directory helps carers find or promote groups in their area. A new online facilitator community on Facebook will soon provide another way for facilitators to connect and share ideas.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Looking ahead to 2026, Kim is contributing to two key outreach projects. The first involves partnering with local councils to deliver workshops tailored to carers in specific communities. The second focuses on working with schools to reach parents caring for children with disability. Her goal is to ensure more carers know about the support available so they never feel alone in their caring journey.
Kim’s Inspiration and Advice
Kim’s favourite part of her work is learning from carers and hearing their stories. Their resilience inspires her, and she loves being able to pass on strategies that create a ripple effect of support across the community. She also values being able to refer carers to Carers Victoria’s Advisory Line, knowing they will receive excellent guidance.
Her advice for Carer Support Group facilitators is simple but important: remember to care for yourself. Facilitators often give so much of their time and energy to others and sharing responsibilities within the group can make a big difference. Encouraging another member to train as a coleader can help the group thrive while ensuring the facilitator stays supported too.
If you are interested in any of the programs mentioned above, please email carernetworks@carersvictoria.org.au.
Help others understand the real impact of care for unpaid carers. Whether you’re a primary, secondary, former or young carer, your story matters - and we want to hear it!
