- Registrations for Foster and Grand Carer Gold Card open today
- 10 per cent subsidy increase for foster and family carers and dedicated Grandcarer Cost of Living Payment begin
- Part of Cook Labor Government's more than $1 billion cost-of-living package, including $100 Fuel Support Payment
New cost-of-living benefits for foster, family and grandcarers begin today, as part of the Cook Labor Government's work to build safe and inclusive communities throughout Western Australia.
Registrations for the new Foster and Grand Carer Gold Card are now open, with a $377 energy bill credit the first benefit available under the new scheme.
Additional benefits and discounts to help carers with everyday expenses will be rolled out in the future.
A 10 per cent subsidy uplift for all foster and family carers also comes into effect today, providing enhanced financial support.
For example, a family caring for a 7-12-year-old child in the metro area will receive nearly $1,500 extra each year.
Other measures to support the essential work of foster, family and grandcarers include:
- expanded support services for foster and family carers in the regions with a $6.9 million funding boost;
- the Cook Labor Government's Foster and Family Carer's Adventure Passes, announced in March, saving families more than $300 on ticket prices to Perth Zoo, Rottnest Island, and all WA museums and national parks; and
- an additional $6.1 million for the Grandcarers Support Scheme, including $1.4 million for another Grandcarer Cost of Living Payment in 2026. This payment will provide grandcarers with an additional $500 for the first grandchild being cared after and $250 for each subsequent grandchild to assist with living expenses.
The government's State-wide recruitment campaign, Become a foster carer - Make a difference to a child's life, will also be continuing this year; since its inception, the campaign has led to 125 new families registering to care for children in need.
These measures form part of the more than $1 billion in cost-of-living relief the Cook Government is delivering to Western Australians, including a new one-off $100 Fuel Support Payment to assist Western Australians with a driver's licence with fuel costs which can also be accessed from today via the Service WA app.
Further details on the Gold Card and available benefits can be found here: Foster and Grand Carer Gold Card
Comments attributed to Child Protection Minister Jessica Stojkovski:
"From today, families who care for our State's most vulnerable children can enjoy a range of benefits that will assist them to continue to provide their essential services.
"From uplifting carer subsidies by 10 per cent to delivering hundreds of dollars in energy bill relief, this government is committed to building safe and inclusive communities by ensuring that foster families get the support they need.
"I encourage all eligible foster and family carers to register for the Gold Card, which you can do through the Service WA app."
As stated by Acting Treasurer John Carey:
"The new Foster and Grand Carer Gold Card is another way we are making sure support gets to the people who need it, including the families who open their homes to children in need.
"Foster, family and grandcarers make an incredible difference in the lives of children and young people across Western Australia.
"These new benefits are about recognising that contribution and helping ease some of the financial pressure."
As stated by Community Services Minister Matthew Swinbourn:
"Grandcarers are a vital part of our community, selflessly providing unpaid care for their grandchildren, and we are pleased to be able to support them further with this raft of cost-of-living supports.
"As well as being able to register for the Gold Card and access its benefits, grandcarers will also be receiving a dedicated Grandcarer Cost of Living Payment this year to acknowledge their contribution and assist them with everyday expenses.
"These supports are just some of the many ways this government is delivering meaningful relief to people struggling with the cost-of-living across the State."
