The WA Government has announced a new $14.5 million Foster and Grand Carer Gold Card as part of its $46.3 million State Budget package.
It says Gold Card holders will benefit from $377 in energy bill relief this year, with additional benefits and discounts to help with everyday expenses to be rolled out in future.
A further Grandcarer Cost of Living Payment, in addition to the existing Grandcarers Support Scheme, will provide $500 for the first grandchild and $250 per grandchild thereafter.
The $46.3 million funding package includes $23.7 million to deliver a 10% subsidy uplift for all foster and family carers and a further $6.9 million to expand existing support services for family carers State-wide.
“Foster and family carers open their homes and their lives to care for some of the most vulnerable children in our community,” said Treasurer, Rita Saffioti.
“They provide help children who need it most, and this package is about making sure they are better supported in that role.
“Our Budget delivers practical cost-of-living relief for carers, including energy bill support, a new annual payment for grandcarers, and a 10 per cent uplift in subsidies for foster and family carers.”
Under the new subsidy rates, a family caring for a 7-12-year-old child in the metro area will receive close to $1,500 extra each year to support their essential services to the community.
Recruitment funding will also continue to grow the number of foster and family carers in Western Australia, with 125 new foster and family carers having joined through the Government’s State-wide recruitment campaign, Become a foster carer – Make a difference to a child’s life, since it launched in 2023.
The campaign has run across social media, radio, digital billboards, and podcasts, driving enquiries from just 90 per year pre-campaign to more than 700 in the past year.
“There are more than 1,800 grandcarers in Western Australia who provide primary care for their grandchildren,” said Community Services Minister, Matthew Swinbourn.
“The Gold Card ensures every eligible grandcarer in WA will receive direct financial and in-kind assistance to help support household expenses.”
Registrations open from 1 July through the ServiceWA app.
