Carers Employment Support Grants Program – Australia

Deadline: 7-Sep-21

The Victorian Government is seeking applications for its Carers employment support grants Program to support grants program is focused on funding organisations to assist carers seeking employment to build their confidence and skills to pursue employment or vocational training in flexible ways and in balance with their care role.

Funded organisations will deliver a range of tailored supports for carers, from work-readiness mentoring through to system navigation, practical assistance and post-employment support.

A range of employment and carers support providers are encouraged to apply – including Support for Carers Program (SCP) providers, carers support organisations and peak bodies, Home and Community Care Program for Younger People (HACC-PYP) providers, local government, health and community health services, not-for-profit disability and aged care service providers, volunteer programs, community organisations, neighbourhood houses, TAFE and Learn Local providers and employment transition support services are eligible to apply. Partnerships and collaborative approaches are encouraged.

Aims

The Carers Employment Support program aims to:

Increase opportunities for unpaid carers to enter the workforce and attain their employment goals
Provide advice, information and support for carers about employment and vocational training opportunities
Provide tailored support to unpaid carers based on their individual employment interests, support needs, and circumstances
Build carer confidence to consider employment opportunities and aspirations through pre-employment mentoring and work readiness support
Provide mentoring and support post-employment to scaffold carers through their transition to the workforce
Strengthen system linkages between carer support organisations and employment and training organisations to improve pathways for carers into employment or training
Provide employment support to unpaid carers from culturally diverse backgrounds and communities and carers facing socio-economic disadvantage and isolation
Facilitate access to carer relief and respite to enable carers to engage in paid employment, vocational training and study, in balance with their care-role responsibilities.
Increase understanding of carers employment needs and effective service responses to meet their needs.

Priorities

The Victorian Government’s recognizing and supporting Victoria’s carers, the Victorian Carer Strategy 2018-22 (the Strategy) has five priorities:

Carers have better health and wellbeing
Carers are supported in school, study and work environments
Carers can access support and services that meet their needs
Carers have less financial stress
Carers are recognised, acknowledged and respected.

Funding Information

The Victorian Government is funding these grants as part of the broader Carers Employment Support initiative, a two-year $4.6 million 2020/21 Budget commitment.

Eligibility Criteria

Grants are available to established organisations that engage local carers, including:
- Carers support organisations (including Support for Carers Program providers)
- Carers support peak bodies
- Employment transition support organisations
- Employment services
- Organisations with volunteer programs supporting people into employment
- Community Health organisations
- Health services
- Local government
- Community groups (for example cultural groups)
- Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations
- Community services organisations
- Neighbourhood houses
- Learn Locals
- TAFE skills and job centres
- Disability Organisations
- Registered, incorporated not for organisations and charities (such as YMCA, Brotherhood of St Laurence, Red Cross)
- Not for profit aged care and home care providers
- Volunteer organisations
To be eligible, applicants must either be a:
- registered incorporated community-based organisation
- charitable or not for profit organisation
- health or community health service, or
- local government in Victoria.