What’s happening?
Carers Queensland has launched a new pilot program for young carers in Rockhampton and Bundaberg.
The Young Carers Employment and Education Pathways program is designed to support young carers into further education or the workforce.
It will help participants build practical skills and confidence, while also connecting them with opportunities in aged care and community care.
The media release was issued on 25 March 2026.
Carers Queensland CEO Jim Toohey said the program came directly from what young carers shared with the organisation.
“During a Young Carer Conversation event in Rockhampton in June 2025, a significant number of young carers identified a need for support in finding a job and accessing training or study,” Mr Toohey said.
“The initiative aims to connect young carers with meaningful opportunities, within the aged care and community care sectors,” he added.
Why it matters?
Young carers often carry major responsibilities at home while trying to study or plan their future.
Carers Queensland says that can make work and education harder to reach without the right support.
Mr Toohey said young carers bring strength and lived experience, but they also face real barriers.
“Young carers are an incredibly resilient and capable members of our community, but they often face significant barriers when it comes to pursuing their own career and education goals,” Mr Toohey said.
The program matters because it aims to give young carers practical support, not just encouragement.
It also responds to workforce needs in sectors that rely on skilled and compassionate people.
By the numbers
- Carers Queensland has been training carers and people with disability for well over a decade, showing long-term work in this space.
- Carers Queensland says 1 in 8 Australians care for a family member or friend, highlighting how common unpaid caring roles are.
- The pilot will combine group workshops with one-on-one coaching, giving participants both shared learning and personal support.
Zoom in
The program will offer virtual and face-to-face group workshops, along with one-on-one coaching.
Participants will get practical help with job searching, resume writing, and interview preparation.
They will also receive support to manage the added challenge of balancing work, life, and caring responsibilities.
Parts of the program have been co-designed with participants so it better reflects what young carers need.
Activities will include skills audits, individual employment and education plans, and meet-and-greet events with local employers.
Mr Toohey said Carers Queensland has worked alongside young carers for many years.
“Carers Queensland has supported young carers, typically caring for a parent or sibling with a disability, for decades.
“This program is about providing them with the additional practical skills and confidence they need to thrive, personally and professionally. We want to open new doors for training and employment opportunities.”
Local impact
For Rockhampton and the wider Central Queensland region, the program could help young carers find local pathways into study and employment.
It also aims to strengthen ties between young carers, employers, and education providers across the region.
That could help build a stronger local workforce in aged care and community care.
Mr Toohey said the impact could reach beyond individual participants.
“By connecting young carers with industry, we are not only supporting their individual journeys but also strengthening the entire community care sector,” he said.
“Their lived experience is invaluable, and often poignant and heart wrenching. This program provides a platform for them to turn that experience into a meaningful career, should they choose that path,” he said.
Zoom out
The program sits within the Queensland Government-backed Industry Skills Solutions program.
That broader program is designed to fast-track skills development in industries that are critical to Queensland’s growing economy.
Carers Queensland is the peak body representing unpaid carers in Queensland.
The organisation says it exists to listen, recognise, support, and amplify the voices of carers.
What to look for next?
Registrations are now open for young carers in Rockhampton and Bundaberg. The pilot will roll out with workshops, coaching, and local employer connections to support the next stage of study and work opportunities.
Young carers in Central Queensland can register here:
https://carersqld.info/4bDzPdr
More information about the program is available here:
https://carersqld.com.au/for-carers/young-carers-employment-and-education/
