❓ Mrs. Godfrey asks the Minister for Community Services about the newly launched grandcarer payment scheme, seeking information for other members of Parliament on how grandcarers in their electorates can apply. The Minister details the scheme's benefits and administration.
AnsweredQoN 847Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
GRANDCARER
PAYMENT SCHEME
847. Mrs G.J. GODFREY to the
Minister for Community Services:
This morning I was pleased to join the minister and 20 grandparents
in my electorate to formally launch the Liberal–National government's
grandcarer payment scheme. Can the minister please outline to other members of
Parliament how grandcarers in their electorates can apply for this new scheme?
PAYMENT SCHEME
847. Mrs G.J. GODFREY to the
Minister for Community Services:
This morning I was pleased to join the minister and 20 grandparents
in my electorate to formally launch the Liberal–National government's
grandcarer payment scheme. Can the minister please outline to other members of
Parliament how grandcarers in their electorates can apply for this new scheme?
AnswerView source ↗
It was great to be there at morning tea today to officially
launch the Western Australian grandcarers payment scheme. We are the first
government in Australia to recognise grandcarers in our community. For whatever
reason, these grandparents are the sole providers for their grandchildren, and
it is great to be part of a government that acknowledges those grandparents in
our community. This morning, I had the opportunity to introduce a pilot scheme
to begin a payment for grandcarers starting in January next year. The payments
will be $400 for the first child and $250 for the second child. The best part
about this program is that it not only acknowledges the work that grandcarers
do in our community, but also provides the opportunity to give them $400 and
$250 for the other child to help them with the costs of raising children,
particularly at the start of the new year when school goes back and children
need to get new backpacks, shoes, books and uniforms. At this time of
grandparents' lives when they should be hooking up the caravan and
travelling around, they are now, for whatever reason, responsible for their
grandchildren. We estimate that there is somewhere between 2 000 and 2 500
grandparents providing that service, and it is great to have the opportunity to
help them in that process of raising their grandkids.
We could not have done this new scheme without the help of
Wanslea Family Services, which is administrating the payment on behalf of my
Department of Local Government and Communities. It is helping us to achieve the
delivery of the money to our community. Also, it was important to get news
today from Hon Kevin Andrews, the federal Minister for Social Services, that
the payments made under this scheme will not count as income in relation to
Centrelink payments. It is great to see that the pension of those who get this
extra bonus of $400 at the start of the year will not be affected. This is a
great outcome. It is great to be part of a government that recognises
grandcarers and the work they do in raising their grandchildren. I thank
Wanslea for helping us to distribute this funding through its organisation and
I thank the grandparents who came out this morning to be part of the process
and to see that the government does care and is helping.
launch the Western Australian grandcarers payment scheme. We are the first
government in Australia to recognise grandcarers in our community. For whatever
reason, these grandparents are the sole providers for their grandchildren, and
it is great to be part of a government that acknowledges those grandparents in
our community. This morning, I had the opportunity to introduce a pilot scheme
to begin a payment for grandcarers starting in January next year. The payments
will be $400 for the first child and $250 for the second child. The best part
about this program is that it not only acknowledges the work that grandcarers
do in our community, but also provides the opportunity to give them $400 and
$250 for the other child to help them with the costs of raising children,
particularly at the start of the new year when school goes back and children
need to get new backpacks, shoes, books and uniforms. At this time of
grandparents' lives when they should be hooking up the caravan and
travelling around, they are now, for whatever reason, responsible for their
grandchildren. We estimate that there is somewhere between 2 000 and 2 500
grandparents providing that service, and it is great to have the opportunity to
help them in that process of raising their grandkids.
We could not have done this new scheme without the help of
Wanslea Family Services, which is administrating the payment on behalf of my
Department of Local Government and Communities. It is helping us to achieve the
delivery of the money to our community. Also, it was important to get news
today from Hon Kevin Andrews, the federal Minister for Social Services, that
the payments made under this scheme will not count as income in relation to
Centrelink payments. It is great to see that the pension of those who get this
extra bonus of $400 at the start of the year will not be affected. This is a
great outcome. It is great to be part of a government that recognises
grandcarers and the work they do in raising their grandchildren. I thank
Wanslea for helping us to distribute this funding through its organisation and
I thank the grandparents who came out this morning to be part of the process
and to see that the government does care and is helping.
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