• A Mettam Liberal Government will triple the Grandcarers Support Scheme to $3,000

• Increasing the payment will help ease cost of living pressures and recognise the invaluable work done by grandcarers

• WA Liberals will also create a new Carer Card

A Mettam Liberal Government will triple the Grandcarers Support Scheme to recognise the invaluable role of grandcarers in supporting their grandkids, and keeping them out of foster care, according to Libby Mettam, WA Liberal Leader, and Donna Faragher, Shadow Minister for Community Services.

“Grandcarers do amazing work, often taking on the role of a parent to keep their grandchildren out of foster care,” said Libby Mettam, WA Liberal Leader.

“Unfortunately, they may not be financially prepared to be a full-time carer, which can lead to poverty and financial hardship – a problem that has only worsened under Labor’s cost-of-living crisis.

“That why a Mettam Liberal Government will triple the payment grandcarers receive from $1,000 per year to $3,000 per year for each eligible grandchild in their care.

“We know it’s not a panacea, but this increased contribution is about recognising the incredible role grandcarers play and easing some pressure in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.”

Shadow Minister for Community Services Donna Faragher said in addition to increasing the payment available through the Grandcarers Support Scheme, a Mettam Liberal Government will also provide additional funding to Wanslea to support their Grandcare Program. A WA Liberal Government will also dedicate 1 FTE in the Department of Communities to work with Wanslea and Grandcarers WA on enquiries from their client base.

“Wanslea is WA’s only government-funded provider of a dedicated support service for grandcarers who provide full-time, primary care for their grandchildren,” said Mrs Faragher.

“In addition to the increased payment to grandcarers, we will contribute an additional $300,000 per annum to Wanslea’s Grandcare Program.

“This additional funding will help Wanslea to meet current and future demand and enable the organisation to continue to provide support to grandcarers including informal counselling, access to support groups, government services navigation as well as assessing a grandcarer’s eligibility for the Grandcarers Support Scheme.

“We know that grandcarers provide invaluable care and stability for their grandchildren during challenging times and this policy is all about recognising grandcarers for the incredible work they do every day.”

Additional support for West Australian grandcarers was welcomed by Scott Edwardes, WA Liberal Candidate for Kingsley.

“Grandcarers WA is based right here in Kinglsey, and I am proud to have worked closely to support them over the years,” said Mr Edwardes.

“I know this additional support will be welcomed by grandcarers across WA in recognition for the incredible work they do with their grandkids.”

The WA Liberals have also committed to creating a WA Carer Card, modelled on Victoria’s scheme, to recognise the critical role carers play in providing support to loved ones.

“A Mettam Liberal Government will create a WA Carer Card to recognise the important role carers play across our community which could include things like concession fares and discounts at participating businesses,” said Ms Mettam.

“This initiative is targeted to the carer and the card would be developed in consultation with Carers WA,” said Mrs Faragher.

The card would initially be targeted to carers in receipt of a carers payment, but consideration would be given to eligibility requirements to enable it to be expanded to unpaid carers as part of the roll-out of the initiative.

A Mettam Liberal Government would also review the WA Carers Strategy as part of an overall commitment to carers across the State.