Carers Victoria uses three-year grant to support young carers

A three-year grant has supported Carers Victoria to deliver targeted financial support to help young carers break isolation and feel recognised for the important role they play.

Across Victoria, thousands of children and teenagers provide unpaid care to a parent, sibling or grandparent living with disability, chronic illness, mental ill health, or age-related needs.

Carers Victoria report that many juggle these responsibilities before and after school, while often experiencing significant financial strain within their families. They may also feel unseen, while trying to keep up with the ordinary rhythms of childhood.

“One young carer told us they would have loved to play soccer with their friends, but just couldn’t afford the uniform,” says Senior Manager Policy and Insights Lorraine Langley from Carers Victoria.

Lorraine explains that providing young carers with small opportunities to reconnect with themselves, their interests and their peers can make an enormous difference to their sense of wellbeing and confidence.

In response to these challenges, Carers Victoria runs a scholarship program, recently supported by a three-year grant from the Collie Foundation, managed by Equity Trustees. The funding, from 2023 to 2025, enabled Carers Victoria to provide 300 young carers with scholarships worth $500 each. Every grant helped its recipient to access activities that fostered wellbeing and brought independence and peer connection.

“These scholarships focus on giving the young person agency to identify what they need that’s really going to benefit them,” says Carers Victoria’s Acting General Manager, Tamara Pearce. “This is about the young carer doing something for themselves.”

The scholarships have funded sporting uniforms, music lessons, tutoring, school essentials and driving lessons. Some recipients used the funding to join a sports team for the first time. Others had the chance to pursue an interest that family finances or caring responsibilities had made challenging.

“Many of these young people don’t feel recognised by their teachers, employers or the community,” Lorraine says. “This program ensures they can take up an activity of their choosing, and feel recognised and valued.”

“This is about the young carer doing something for themselves.”

The scholarship program offered more than financial assistance. It also created recognition. According to Carers Victoria, 95 per cent of recipients said they felt valued as a young carer, while more than half reported feeling more independent.

“Giving these kids something that is just for them can make a really big difference to their lives and sense of wellbeing.”

Carers, of all ages, are in need

Carers Victoria estimates there are around 750,000 unpaid carers, of all ages, across the state. That equates to one-in-eight Victorians.

Many do not even recognise themselves as carers.

As the peak body for unpaid carers in Victoria, Carers Victoria provides assistance for unpaid carers of all ages. This includes statewide support through advisory services, support groups, education programs and early intervention initiatives such as Step into Caring, helping carers connect with support earlier and avoid reaching crisis point.

“We want carers to know that, no matter their age, they can always reach out to us and get support,” Tamara says.

Continued philanthropic support for the organisation remains essential to allow many support services to be delivered, especially as the number of carers across Victoria continues to grow and more carers seek help earlier.

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Photo: Judith Abbott CEO Callum Ingram Board Director and 2025 Young Carer Scholarship recipients. Credit: Carers Victoria.