Young carers to benefit from additional support

The funding will deliver a range of successful programs benefiting young carers for three years.

Two of the programs, the Young Carer Bursary Program and Young Carer Network help carers aged under 25 years old to stay in school and reach their study and work goals.

“The funding will have a particular focus on helping young carers take part in all aspects of society, including the chance to participate fully in their study, community and family life,” Minister for Families and Social Services, Paul Fletcher says.

“Through this extended funding, Carers Australia will award bursaries of $3,000 to around 1,000 young carers each year to relieve some of the pressure to work part-time in addition to their education and caring responsibilities.”

Chief Executive Officer of Carers Australia, Ara Cresswell welcomes the funding and says it will allow the successful programs to continue over the next three years.

“In the years that Carers Australia has been running these targeted supports, we have seen young carers benefit enormously, not only because the bursary has enabled them to continue with their education but it has also recognised them as young carers and the absolutely vital role they plan in supporting their families.”

She says the organisation will continue to raise awareness of the needs of young carers who often go unrecognised.

Assistant Minister for Social Services, Housing and Disability Services, Sarah Henderson says targeted programs are important as young carers can feel overwhelmed and alone when balancing caring commitments with study and friendships.

She says of the estimated 272,000 young carers in the country, three out of five don’t go on to further studies after highschool, putting them at risk of long-term disadvantage.

“I encourage all young carers to connect with the Young Carers Network run by Carers Australia, which provides an online community for young carers and directs them to pathways for support.”

Within the funding allocation, Carers Australia will receive $624,000 to deliver National Carers Week for the next three years.

The annual week held in October helps to recognise and celebrate the often underestimated contributions unpaid Australian carers make to the disability and ageing community.

The funding announcement comes after an $84 million boost for new carer services was announced in the Federal Budget 2019-20.

The Budget announcement signalled one of the biggest reforms to carer services in over 10 years.