How do I know if I am eligible?
To be eligible for the Young Carer Bursary Program, you must be:
- Providing unpaid care and support to a family member or friend with a disability, a physical or mental illness, a substance dependency, or who is aged.
- Aged between 12 – 25 for the entire time you are receiving bursary.
- An Australian citizen, or permanent resident; and,
- Studying at high school, TAFE, private college, university, or other tertiary education institutes.
Young carers are not eligible if they hold an advanced diploma, bachelor’s degree or above, or if they are currently receiving another scholarship.
Is the Young Carer Bursary Program income tested?
No.
Am I an unpaid carer if I receive Carer Allowance or Carer Payment?
Yes. These payments are not considered income as you are not employed as a carer.
What if I am under 18?
Young Carers do not need parent/guardian permission to apply. If a young carer is shortlisted for a bursary we will ask for parent/guardian consent. An exemption can be applied in exceptional circumstances.
Can my other family members, including siblings apply too?
Yes, your family members, including siblings can apply, even if you are caring for the same person.
How will I know when applications open?
Applications for the Young Carer Bursary Program open 16 August 2021.
To subscribe to the Young Carers Network and receive notifications about the Young Carer Bursary, as well as young carer events and opportunities, click the link below:
https://youngcarersnetwork.com.au/
To subscribe to the Carers Australia newsletter and keep up to date on programs, news, and events for carers by clicking the link below:
If I have applied in the past, can I apply again?
Yes. You can apply every year that you meet the eligibility criteria.
What will I be asked in the application?
The application asks:
your details and a little bit about you; details of your course/s; about your caring role and; the impact this has on your ability to study and/or attend classes.Please provide as much information in your answers as possible to give us a clear picture of your caring role and how it impacts you as a young carer.
Is there a paper-based application form?
No. The application form is only available online via the Young Carers Network website. If you would like support to complete the online application, please see the Who can support me to apply? section.
What if I cannot access the internet?
If you do not have internet access at home, please contact Carer Gateway, a school counsellor, a teacher, or a support worker for assistance. They will be able to provide access to the Young Carers Network website and support you while completing the application.
There are also many ways to access the internet by using Wi-Fi at:
School, Libraries, Local businesses, Museums, Youth groups, Mobile hotspot, Shopping centres.If you are in a rural or regional area and are having issues accessing the internet, please contact the Carers Australia Young Carers Team on 1800 756 238 and they will support you to connect to a local organization.
Can someone else enquire about my application on my behalf?
I am a young carer who lives with a disability or mental illness, can I have a support person listed on my application?
What if I am over 18 and need support?
What happens if I do not have my own bank account?
You can nominate to have the bursary paid into a parent or guardian’s bank account.
What happens if I was unable to lodge my application due to extenuating circumstances?
The Carers Australia Young Carers Team will look at these on a case-by-case basis. If you have questions about extenuating circumstances, please call 1800 756 238.
I have applied for another scholarship but am not sure if I have been successful yet.
You can apply for both the Young Carer Bursary and another scholarship. If successful for both, you will need to choose which one to accept.
Will the Young Carer Bursary impact my Centrelink payment?
No. Further information can be found on the Services Australia website under exempt income.
Find information about exempt income here.
If I have an NDIS plan, am I still eligible to apply for the Young Carer Bursary?
Yes. The NDIS does not pay for educational expenses. You should not be asked about your personal spending on education by the NDIS.
How will I know if I have submitted my application successfully?
An email and SMS confirmation will be sent. You can also view the status of your application in the online portal on the My Profile page.
What happens if I am not successful?
An email and SMS notification will be sent. You can also view the status of your application in the online portal on the My Profile page.
How will you contact me?
The Carers Australia Young Carers Team will usually attempt to contact you via email, so please monitor your inbox frequently and check your junk folder. An overview of emails we have sent will also be available in your My Profile.