Woman with glasses sitting at her kitchen table smiling at her laptopUnpaid carers in Queensland, Tasmania, and South Australia will now be able to access new vocational opportunities through a Carers Queensland initiative. 

A new pilot program called Your Caring Way, will provide accredited and non-accredited training to carers and prepare them for paid employment, work experience or volunteering with suitable carerfriendly employers. 

The program, launched by Carers Queensland and funded by the Department of Social Services, was specifically designed to support carers and will be implemented over two and half years across the three states.  

Your Caring Way is an end-to-end vocational coaching program that focuses upon carers wanting to pursue their goals. 

Its step-by-step program model, combined with innovative assessment tools and individualized support from Vocational Coachesallow carers to develop a plan that will help them make their way through their own journey, at their own pace. 

Carers Queensland Chair, Jim Toohey said the new initiative provides a great chance for Carers Queensland to work with community, employers, industry, educators and Government.  

We are in unprecedented times, and now more than ever, we need to rethink how we support unpaid carers,” Mr. Toohey said.  

We are willing to invest in their future. We want to help them return to the workforce by connecting them to real opportunities,” he said. 

“We are committed in providing opportunities not only for them, but for community organisations, businesses, employers, and other education and training providers,” he added 

In 2018, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC), among carers aged 15-64 years (living in households) showed that carers were less likely to be employed (66.6%) than non-carers (77.4%). 

“Many carers want to enter for the first time or re-enter the workforce, study or volunteer. However, they often feel unprepared to do so,” Mr. Toohey said.  

“We know that employment enables social connectedness, improved health and wellbeing, and provides time away from caring responsibilities.” 

“In saying that, we are here to support them in achieving their goals, whether that be full-time or part-time employment, studying or volunteering. It’s their choice” he added.  

For more information on Your Caring Way – 


About Carers Queensland Ltd.  

Carers Queensland is a not for profit organisation supporting unpaid carers. With one in every eight Australians caring for a family member or friend, Carers Queensland is committed to providing specialised disability, aged, and carer support services. 

For almost 30 years, Carers Queensland has been working to advocate for equal rights, opportunities, and enhanced outcomes for families. 

We work within and value our local community, responding to unmet need with care and respect, assisting those who are disconnected through high-quality personalised support. 

We are dedicated to making life better.  

For more information, contact:
Rosa Rois
Communications Officer
P: 3900 8100
E: rrois@carersqld.com.au