The Member for Ballarat, Catherine King, said young carers will be a priority under a Labor Government with a proposal to triple the number who will get access to the Young Carer Bursary Program.
Ms King said Labor recognised the enormous responsibility on the shoulders of young carers.
“We’ve been listening to the concerns of young carers and have developed a plan for another 600 young carers to get access to extra support to manage their work, study and care responsibilities,” she said.
Ms King said the Young Carers Bursary Program, administered by Carers Australia, supports young carers to complete their education by providing grants of up to $3,000.
“Labor’s $11 million funding boost will help ensure more young carers get the support they need when they undertake part-time study or training, at the same time as continuing their caring responsibilities,” she said.
“It concerns me that only around 300 people access the Young Carers Bursary Program and that more than triple that number are turned away,” Ms King said.
“In the Ballarat Region, young carers are making enormous sacrifices so they can care for a loved one. Often they are forced to go without so they can support the person they are caring for,” Ms King said.
“Tripling the number of bursaries isn’t a huge cost but it is the right thing to do for young people who give so much,” she said.