Young carers encouraged to apply for study support funding

Applications for the 2016 Young Carer Bursary Programme will open on 18 August 2015.

The 2016 Young Carer Bursary Programme will deliver 333 bursaries worth $3,000 each to assist young carers up to 25 years old to continue studying and to relieve the financial pressure on them to work in addition to their caring.

The Government recognises carers play a vital role in the lives of many Australians, and in our communities more broadly.

Young carers often have to juggle part-time work and caring responsibility with their study.

We want the programme to provide an effective level of financial support to as many young carers as possible.

The establishment of the Young Carer Bursary Programme was an election commitment that the Government delivered in the 2014-15 Budget.

The Government allocated $3 million over three years to the programme, which is administered by Carers Australia.

A further $500,000 for an additional 150 bursaries was invested last year.

Feedback from young carers about the bursaries programme has been overwhelmingly positive, and has been designed in consultation with Carers Australia.

Online application forms for the 2016 bursaries will be available on the Carers Australia ‘Young Carers’ website.