Foster and Grand Carer Gold Card

The Foster and Grand Carer Gold Card will provide a range of discounts, credits and benefits to help with everyday expenses for eligible carers. The first benefit available will be an Energy Bill Relief Payment to assist with household energy costs, with more benefits to be rolled out in future.

Eligibility is linked to carers defined under the Children and Community Services Act 2004. This includes:

1. existing foster and family carers (including community and pre-adoptive) who have provided a care arrangement for a child (or children) for 14 nights in total between 1 January 2026 and 30 June 2026.
2. Special Guardianship Order (SGO) carers.

Eligibility includes carers with either the Department of Communities (Communities) or an out-of-home care provider / Community Service Organisation (CSO) including an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO).

All new foster and family carers are eligible for the first 26 weeks of their carer registration.  As a transition, all Communities, Community Service Organisations or an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation carers approved between 1 January 2026 to 30 June 2026 are eligible for the Foster and Grand Carer Gold Card irrespective of the number of days of care they have provided.

After a foster, family and SGO carer’s first six months of carer registration, eligibility for the Foster and Grand Carer Gold Card will be maintained by caring for a child (or children) for 14 nights out of the previous 26 weeks.

Eligibility is also available to grandcarers who receive the Grandcarers Support Scheme (GSS) payment and are the full-time primary carer for a grandchild.  The Gold Card is available to eligible grandcarers who are not already receiving other financial support from the Department.

The Foster and Grand Carer Gold Card will be active for one year, renewed annually for grandcarers who receive the GSS.

If a renewal happens when the child is 17 years or older, the grandcarer is still eligible for the full year membership even if the child turns 18 years during that period.

Carers who provide unpaid personal care, support and assistance to a family member needing help with daily life due to disability, impairment, mental illness, age, chronic health conditions, terminal illness, alcohol or drug dependency are not eligible for this incentive.

No, if carers meet the above eligibility requirements, they will have access to the benefits outlined.

The fastest, most secure and convenient way to register for the Foster and Grand Carer Gold Card is through the ServiceWA app. Registrations open from 1 July 2026 through ServiceWA linkable services. Once registrations open on 1 July 2026 and you are logged in with your Digital ID, the payment will be made available to eligible carers.

If you need assistance to log in with your Digital ID, visit the ServiceWA app: Get your Digital ID page.

For foster, family and SGO carers who prefer not to use the ServiceWA app, please contact Fostering Connections on 1800 182 178 or attend your local Department of Communities office for further assistance with registration.

For eligible grandcarers please contact WA Seniors Card Centre on 1800 671 233 or Fostering Connections on 1800 182 178.

1. The ServiceWA app is the fastest, most secure and convenient way to register for a Foster and Grand Carer Gold Card. To register: Download the ServiceWA app and log in with your Digital ID (myID) at a Standard identity strength. 
2. Visit the Home screen and select the ‘+’ to link a service.
3. Select Foster and Grand Carer Gold Card and follow the prompts to register.

Once you’ve registered for a Gold Card, you’ll receive a ServiceWA app Inbox message with your reference number.

To find out more about your Digital ID, go to: ServiceWA app: Get your Digital ID.

To access the ServiceWA support hub, go to: ServiceWA app: Support hub.

If you are already logged in with your Digital ID, head to the home tab, select the ‘+’ to link a service and select the Foster and Grand Carer Gold Card in the Linkable Service list.

If it has been a while since you last used the ServiceWA app you might be asked to log in again with your Digital ID.

Make sure you use the same email address in ServiceWA that you established your Digital ID with.

You can also access the ServiceWA support hub for direct support, go to: ServiceWA app: Support hub.

All eligible carers within a household are encouraged to register for a Gold Card. Foster, family and SGO carers who register in ServiceWA can be notified through their app of offers available to them. Discounts and benefits are applied to the household, not per carer.

For foster, family and SGO carers who prefer not to use the ServiceWA app, please contact Fostering Connections on 1800 182 178 or attend your local Department of Communities office for further assistance with registration.

For eligible grandcarers please contact WA Seniors Card Centre on 1800 671 233 or Fostering Connections on 1800 182 178.

The Department of Communities will not share any of your personal information with a third party, including ServiceWA, without permission. The information that ServiceWA collects can be found in the ServiceWA privacy policy.

Registration for the Foster and Grand Carer Gold Card will remain open and ongoing to all new and existing carers that meet the eligibility criteria.

The Energy Bill Relief Payment is a WA Government payment for recipients of the Foster and Grand Carer Gold Card that helps with household energy costs. Gold Card recipients will receive one payment of $377.14 for the household.

The fastest, most secure and convenient way to register for the Foster and Grand Carer Gold Card is through the ServiceWA app.

Those registering via the ServiceWA app will receive the full amount of $377.14 directly into their nominated bank account within 30 days of approval.

For foster, family and SGO carers with Communities, CSOs or ACCOs this will be to the same bank account where you receive your fortnightly subsidy.

For grandcarers this will be to the bank account linked to the GSS payment.

For foster, family and SGO carers who want to update their bank details or understand payment times for the non-ServiceWA channel please reach out to Fostering Connections on 1800 182 178.

The Foster and Grand Carer Gold Card will provide access to a growing range of discounts, credits and benefits commencing with the Energy Bill Relief Payment.

Additional support will be introduced over time, including financial assistance with utilities, vehicle licensing fees, family activities and events.

Grandcarers who meet eligibility criteria will continue to receive the Grandcarers Support Scheme.