Deaf Victoria and Little Dreamers Australia are among the recipients of grants under the Allan Labor Government’s Connecting Carers in their Community grants program.

Minister for Carers and Volunteers Ros Spence today announced 25 new recipients of the $900,000 grants program during National Carers Week.

The Connecting Carers in their Community grants program provides community organisations with grants of between $20,000 and $40,000 to help fund projects that reduce isolation experienced by many carers who selflessly look after loved ones.

This includes Deaf Victoria’s project, an Auslan and deaf friendly Carers Support Group, and Little Dreamers Australia’s project, the Young Carer School Holiday Program.

Victoria’s more than 700,000 unpaid carers provide essential care and support to loved ones. Many provide care around the clock, making it difficult for them to access the support they need to look after themselves or connect with others in their community.

The grants program is independently administered by Carers Victoria and prioritises support for carers in regional and rural areas.

Carers Victoria is the advocacy body for Victoria’s unpaid carers, working closely with the community and carer support sector.

Applications for the program were encouraged from carer support groups, community groups and grassroots organisations that connect with unpaid carers in regional communities, including First Nations, multicultural, LGBTQIA+ and other diverse Victorian carers.

The grant program is part of the Allan Labor Government’s commitment to support unpaid carers and aligns with the objectives of the Victorian Carer Strategy.