A helping hand for young carers
The Gillard Government is investing around $25 million over the next three years to continue supporting young carers across Australia.
Young carers deserve the same opportunities as other young people and this funding extension will allow 53 Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centres to continue delivering respite, education and support services to young carers.
Carers Australia will also continue to provide information and referral services for young carers as part of the Young Carers Program including through a national website and 1800 number.
Many young carers spend long hours caring for loved ones, in some cases more than 40 hours a week, while at the same time balancing school or work commitments.
We want to keep young carers in school or other equivalent vocational education so they have the same life chances as other young people.
The Young Carers Program provides access to respite services to help young carers at school take time off to study, spend time with friends and enjoy regular activities that other young people take for granted like playing team sport.
The program also provides flexible activities to help reduce stress on young carers, including educational, social and recreational activities such as tutoring, cooking and budgeting lessons and fun school holiday activities.
We understand that caring for a loved one is a huge responsibility for children and young people and we are committed to providing a range of support to help young carers achieve their personal goals.
There are approximately 340,000 young carers under the age of 25, of which about 20,000 are primary carers (ABS Survey of Disability and Carers, 2003).
The program provides flexible respite to more than 3,000 young carers across Australia each year as well as information, referral and advice services to thousands more.
Organisations receiving funding are in the table below:
| State | Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | Total 3yr funding excl gst |
|---|---|---|
| ACT | ACT Commonwelath Respite and Carelink Centre | $311,892 |
| NSW | Cumberland Prospect Commonwelath Respite and Carelink Centre | $608,814 |
| NSW | South Eastern Sydney Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $792,597 |
| NSW | Far West Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $108,180 |
| NSW | Central West Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $183,699 |
| NSW | Orana NSW Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $108,180 |
| NSW | New England Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $342,165 |
| NSW | Hunter Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $430,854 |
| NSW | Riverina / Murray Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $282,114 |
| NSW | Illawarra Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $388,620 |
| NSW | Central Coast Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $317,529 |
| NSW | Northern Sydney Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $678,894 |
| NSW | Southern Highlands Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $208,377 |
| NSW | South West Sydney Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $662,634 |
| NSW | Nepean Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $192,189 |
| NSW | Far North Coast Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $277,854 |
| NSW | Mid North Coast Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $304,722 |
| NSW | Inner West Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $412,932 |
| NT | Top End Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $107,799 |
| NT | East Arnhem Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $107,799 |
| NT | Central Australia Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $107,799 |
| QLD | South Brisbane Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $745,134 |
| QLD | Central Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $552,840 |
| QLD | North Brisbane Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $1,201,830 |
| QLD | Darling Downs / South West Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $384,588 |
| QLD | Northern Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $528,804 |
| QLD | Peninsula Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $408,621 |
| QLD | West Moreton / South Coast Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $985,500 |
| SA | South and East Metropolitan Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $643,101 |
| SA | South and East Country Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $245,160 |
| SA | North and West Metropolitan Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $659,091 |
| SA | North and West Country Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $229,170 |
| TAS | South Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $342,036 |
| TAS | North Commonwealth Carer Respite and Carelink Centre | $197,061 |
| TAS | North West Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $144,852 |
| VIC | Southern Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $1,305,606 |
| VIC | Grampians Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $238,215 |
| VIC | Barwon South Western Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $391,995 |
| VIC | Loddon Mallee Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $337,380 |
| VIC | Western Metro Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $806,979 |
| VIC | Gippsland Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $274,320 |
| VIC | Northern Metro VIC Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $806,979 |
| VIC | Eastern Metro Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $962,634 |
| VIC | Hume Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $253,530 |
| WA | South West Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $234,522 |
| WA | East Metro Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $377,073 |
| WA | South East Metropolitan Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $410,436 |
| WA | North Metro Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $543,888 |
| WA | Midwest Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $90,990 |
| State | Centre Name | Total 1yr funding excl gst |
| WA | Goldfields Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $20,220 |
| WA | Great Southern Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $15,165 |
| WA | Wheatbelt Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $15,165 |
| WA | South West Metro Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre | $90,599 |