Carers support program
Event Program 2026
Due to a staffing transition, we will be pausing our carer event program through July and August and plan to restart in September 2026. We are continuing to engage with our carer community through check ins over the phone during this period of transition. As we organise our calendar, we will be sure to list upcoming events for you to register your interest and confirm your attendance. If you are a registered carer, please save the following dates in your calendar:
Friday, October 16th, 2026 - BrainLink's Carers Week Lunch at The Langham Hotel
Friday, December 4th, 2026 - BrainLink's Carers Christmas Lunch at The Matthew Flinders Hotel
All BrainLink Carer Support Program activities are free for registered carers. Our program is designed to support unpaid carers of people living with a brain injury or a progressive neurological condition. We support carers throughout Victoria, with active communities across metropolitan Melbourne, the Southern Peninsula, the Hume Region (including Shepparton and Benalla), and Gippsland’s Latrobe Valley.
Program Eligibility
New Carers
If you are new to BrainLink, you will need to complete your carer registration before submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI). You can register online below.
Co-carers
If you share caring responsibilities with another registered carer, please let us know if you are both submitting EOIs for the same activity. For some events, we may only be able to allocate one place per family to ensure fairness.
Event Suitability
Before submitting an EOI, please check that the date and location of the event are suitable for you. Transport is not provided. For online sessions, a computer or smart device with internet access is required. We recommend using Wi-Fi where possible to manage data usage.
Event Attendance
We understand that life as a carer can be unpredictable. However, our events have limited places and are pre-paid. If you accept a place and later cannot attend, please let us know as soon as possible so another carer has the opportunity to participate.
Fair Access
We are committed to allocating activities fairly to all carers. To do this, we consider the number of hours of support each carer has received during the financial year. This includes all services such as carer morning teas/lunches, theatre shows, retreats, workshops, day trips, overnight respite, and individual support.
Respect for Staff and Carers
At BrainLink, we believe our events work best when everyone feels respected and valued. We ask carers to treat our staff, facilitators, and fellow carers with kindness and fairness — and we commit to doing the same in return. Together, we can create a welcoming space where carers are supported, and everyone feels comfortable to connect and take part.
Event Allocation - How it Works
Click on the event you like. Then, click the expression of interest button. This will take you to your email, where you can show your interest.
Each activity has a specified deadline for EOI. Please submit before this time to be considered for allocation to this event.
Activities are not allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Priority is given to carers who are new to BrainLink or who have not attended an activity in the past six months.
After EOIs close, allocations are finalised and you will receive an outcome email within a few business days.
- If you are allocated a place, you will receive a confirmation email with full event details.
- If you are not allocated, you will be notified via email if you have been placed on the waiting list. and contacted if a place becomes available.
Important: Please note that expressing interest does not automatically guarantee you a place.
Carer Zones
Bayside
- Port Phillip council
- Bayside council
- Glen Eira council
- Kingston council
Mornington Peninsula
- Frankston council
- Mornington Peninsular council
Outer Southern Carers
- Greater Dandenong council
- Casey council
- Cardinia council
Eastern Carers
- Stonnington council
- Boroondara council
- Monash council
- Whitehorse council
- Manningham council
- Maroondah council
- Knox council
- Yarra Ranges Shire
Western Carers
- Melbourne council
- Mooney Valley council
- Maribyrnong council
- Hobsons Bay council
- Brimbank council
- Melton council
- Wyndham council
Northern Carers
- Yarra council
- Merri-bek council
- Darebin council
- Banyule council
- Hume council
- Whittlesea council
- Nillumbuk shire
