Cost-of-living relief payments for more than 5,000 WA families

• Cook Labor Government builds on cost-of-living assistance with additional help for grandcarers, foster carers, family carers, and special guardian carers
• Eligible carers to receive $500 for the first child in their care, and $250 for each additional child in the household
• 5,600 households to benefit from cost-of-living support payment

Carers looking after some of the State's most vulnerable children will get a helping hand with cost-of-living expenses in the New Year.

Grandcarers, foster carers, family carers, and special guardian carers will all receive a one-off payment of $500 for the first child in their care and $250 for each additional child.

The $3.6 million Cook Labor Government investment will provide a timely boost for approximately 5,600 households across Western Australia who are caring for more than 7,700 children.

The payment will start being issued in late January 2024.

Grandcarers are grandparents who provide primary care for their grandchildren, usually on a full-time and unpaid basis.

Foster carers, family carers, and special guardian carers are assessed by the Department of Communities and the Community Services Sector and have volunteered or agreed to care for children and young people in out-of-home care.

The Department of Communities, community sector organisations and Aboriginal community-controlled organisations work together to support grandcarers, foster, family, and special guardianship carers who are providing care to Western Australian children and young people.

Today's announcement builds on the Cook Labor Government's commitment to providing cost-of-living relief. A second $200 electricity credit is currently being rolled out to households around the State, while initiatives like seniors' rebates are also helping to ease the financial burden for WA families.

For more information, please visit the Carers and Grandcarers page on the Department of Communities: www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-communities/carers-and-grandcarers

Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook:

"My Government is grateful to every single carer for their commitment to achieving positive outcomes for some of the State's most vulnerable children.

"We recognise the increased financial pressures being felt across the country are difficult for many people to navigate.

"That's why we are putting the needs of Western Australians first, continually looking for ways to help families who are doing it tough, and providing additional support to those who need it most."

Comments attributed to Child Protection Minister Sabine Winton:

"Our community of carers are extraordinary people who step up and support vulnerable children and young people in our community.

"These people open their hearts and their homes to children in their greatest time of need.

"This one-off cost-of-living payment will help carers support the children in their care to have what they need for the start of the school year."