Supporting Carers Of Other People's Children - Australian Foster ...

Australian Foster CareAssociation Inc.SUPPORTING CARERS OFOTHER PEOPLE’S CHILDRENA handbook on support for foster, relativeand kinship carers and the children and youngpeople in their care1

There are several real-life personal accounts in this publication. The names of the people involved have been changedto preserve their anonymity. The stories have been included to inspire and encourage people involved in foster, relative,or kinship care of children and young people. Thank you to those who have been willing to share their stories and lifeexperiences with us.Any unidentified photographs accompanying the personal stories are for illustration only and are not of the people in thestories. Photographs of Indigenous people have been used with permission.First published September 2006 by theAustralian Foster Care Association Inc. (ACT)Email: afca@bigpond.comNational Library of AustraliaCataloguing-in-Publication informationAustralian Foster Care Association Inc.Supporting carers of other people’s children: A handbookon support for foster, relative and kinship carers and thechildren and young people in their care.Includes index.ISBN 0 9775997 0 1.1. Child welfare - Government policy - Australia. 2.Foster home care - Australia - Handbooks, manuals, etc. 3.Children and adults - Australia. I. Australian Foster CareAssociation.362.7330994© Commonwealth of Australia 2006This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproducedby any process without prior written permission from the Commonwealth. Requests and inquiries concerningreproduction and rights should be addressed to the Commonwealth Copyright Administration, Attorney-General’sDepartment, Robert Garran Offices, National Circuit, Barton ACT 2600 or posted at www.ag.gov.au/cca.DISCLAIMER: The Commonwealth and the Australian Foster Care Association Inc. accepts no responsibility forthe accuracy or completeness of any material contained in this publication. Additionally, the Commonwealth andthe Australian Foster Care Association Inc. disclaims all liability to any person in respect of anything, and of theconsequences of anything, done or omitted to be done by any such person in reliance, whether wholly or partially,upon any information presented in this publication.CAUTION: Material in this publication is made available on the understanding that the Commonwealth and theAustralian Foster Care Association Inc. are not providing professional advice. Before relying on any of the material inthis publication, readers should obtain appropriate professional advice. Views and recommendations of third parties,which are also included in this publication, do not necessarily reflect the views of the Commonwealth or the AustralianFoster Care Association Inc., or indicate a commitment to a particular course of action.Care has been taken to ensure that the information provided in this publication is accurate. All information andmaterial was correct at the time of printing (September 2006).Supporting Carers Of Other People’s Children: A handbook on support for foster, relative and kinship carers and thechildren and young people in their care is an Early Childhood – Invest to Grow initiative, funded by the AustralianGovernment under the Stronger Families and Communities strategy.2

ContentsPreface 5Roles of the Australian Government and stateand territory governments 6Summary of Australian Government support 6Australian Government payments and allowances summary table 7Carer Payment 9Carer Allowance 9Welfare to Work – Information for foster carers onincome support payments 10Documents that Centrelink in each state and territory willlook for from foster carers for Welfare to Work exemptions 13The inside journey through foster care 16Child Support Scheme 17Child Care Benefit 17Grandparent Child Care Benefit 1730% Child Care Tax Rebate 18Double Orphan Pension 18Defining features of Australian foster carers: child-centredaltruism, commitment, persistence and empathy 19Family Tax Benefit 20Caring for Indigenous kids 23Maternity Payment 24Maternity Immunisation Allowance 24Multiple Birth Allowance 24Organising foster children’s passports 27Accessing Legal Aid 29Not eligible for Legal Aid for a child care andprotection matter? 29Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme 32Large Family Supplement 32Foster children and Medicare cards 33Concession cards coverage for children and youngpeople in foster care 34Parenting Payment 35Newstart Allowance 35Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in care 36ABSTUDY 39Foster care associations 40Transition to Independent Living Allowance 42Youth Allowance 44Contents continued on next page...3

Contents continuedAustralian Capital Territory support information 46New South Wales support information 48Northern Territory support information 50Queensland support information 52South Australia support information 54Tasmania support information 57Victoria support information 59Western Australia support information 62Experiences of careJennie, birth child of foster carers 14Laurel, Jennie’s Mum 15Elizabeth, veteran carer of babies 25Bianca, former child in care 28Tamara, my foster Mum was amazing 30Claire, former child in care 31Shane, Aboriginal carer 38Matthew, young person in care 41The production of Supporting carers of other people’s children: A handbook onsupport for foster, relative and kinship carers and the children and young peoplein their care has been managed by Ross Gurney and Bev Orr for the AustralianFoster Care Association Inc.Overall design, layout, research and writing, and project management has beenundertaken by Ross Gurney.Bev Orr has provided invaluable advice from extensive knowledge and experiencein the foster care sector as well as publication, research and writing, and editingexpertise. She has also liaised extensively with non-government members of thefoster care sector and located those whose positive stories and contributions havegiven a personal touch to this publication.Staff in the Commonwealth Department of Families, Community Services andIndigenous Affairs have also made significant contributions.4

Message from the MinisterChildren and young people are Australia’s most precious natural resource. Every child deserves thechance to be healthy, happy, confident and secure.It gives me great pleasure to introduce the Supporting Carers of Other People’s Children: A handbook onsupport for foster, relative and kinship carers and the children and young people in their care, producedby the Australian Foster Care Association.The Supporting Carers of Other People’s Children handbook contains information on the wide range ofservices, allowances and payments available for carers – as well as for the children and young peoplein their care – across Australia. It also contains positive, yet realistic, stories about the experiences offoster families.Carers make an important contribution to improving the lives of children and young people acrossAustralia. They willingly give their time and care to children and young people in need.The Australian Government recognises the valuable contribution of carers and also understands theyneed support and information to carry out their roles effectively.The role of carers is challenging yet, ultimately, rewarding. Through initiatives, such as the SupportingCarers of Other People’s Children handbook, the Australian Government is continuing its commitment tostrengthen families and improve outcomes for children and young people.The Hon Mal Brough MPMinister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous AffairsPrefaceThis publication represents a significant milestone for the Australian Foster Care Association Inc. (AFCA).A study conducted in 2000–2001 on AFCA’s behalf into the support needs of foster carers has born fruit ina number of ways. Two of these are the events which led up to the creation and acceptance of a NationalPlan for Foster Children, Young People and their Carers, the National Plan for Foster Children, YoungPeople and their Carers (the National Plan) and this publication, funded as an initiative under the NationalPlan, which outlines the payments and allowances available to foster, relative and kinship carers fromboth the Australian Government and state and territory governments.The Australian Foster Care Association Inc. believes that this publication, in conjunction with the NationalPlan and its other outcomes, can only result in better outcomes for the children and young people in care.Along the way they will meet, either directly or through consequential actions and materials, the manyneeds of carers as they strive to do the best they can for children and young people who have a need forsensitive and exceptional care from people who, out of the goodness of their hearts, have volunteered tocare for other people’s children.We thank the Australian Government through the Department of Families, Community Services andIndigenous Affairs for making this publication possible. It does not and can not hold all of the informationthat would be useful, but it will point you in the right direction to get the kind of help that you may need.5

Roles of the Australian Government and stateand territory governmentsGovernment responsibilities for supporting families in Australia are split between the AustralianGovernment and the state and territory governments. Generally, the Australian Government isresponsible for a variety of family matters, including marriage, divorce, child custody, pensions andallowances. State and territory governments are primarily responsible for child protection.The Australian Government provides support for families through family assistance payments and incomesupport payments. Family assistance is designed to help low and middle-income families with the costsof raising children. Most of this assistance is targeted to families on low incomes. This support is alsoavailable to qualifying foster, relative and kinship carers in their role of caring for children and youngpeople who are unable to live with their parents.State and territory governments, through their community services or welfare departments, aim toprotect children and young people who are at risk of harm, abuse or neglect within their families, orwhen their families do not have the capacity to care for and protect them. When the child or youngperson is unable to remain safely in their own home, the state or territory community services or welfaredepartment may place the child or young person with a foster, relative or kinship carer and provide someassistance to support the placement.Summary of Australian Government supportThe Australian Government is committed to supporting and strengthening families and recognises thatfamilies today have a diversity of parenting responsibilities and arrangements.As part of this commitment, the Australian Government makes a substantial contribution to the wellbeingof children and young people in out-of-home care by providing a range of payments and allowances toeligible carers (see table opposite).Important: The information in this handbook is intended as a guide only. It is a good ideato make an appointment with Centrelink or the Family Assistance Office to discuss mattersrelating to assistance for children and young people entering or leaving your care, as theissues are usually complex.6

Australian Government payments andallowances summary tablePayment orallowance30% Child Care TaxRebateABSTUDYAssistance forIsolated ChildrenSchemeCarer AllowanceCarer PaymentChild Care BenefitConcession cards(including HealthCare Cards)Double OrphanPensionFamily Tax BenefitPart AFamily Tax BenefitPart BGrandparent ChildCare BenefitLarge FamilySupplementMaternityImmunisationAllowanceMaternity PaymentMultiple BirthAllowanceDescriptionThe new 30% Child Care Tax Rebate helps families with the cost ofapproved child care. The rebate is not means tested and may cover upto 30% of your out-of-pocket expenses for approved child care with amaximum rebate per child of $4,000 (indexed per year).ABSTUDY provides a means-tested living allowance and othersupplementary benefits to eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islandersecondary and tertiary students and New Apprentices. Primary schoolstudents living at home and aged 14 years or more on 1 January in theyear of study may also be eligible for assistance.If you care for a student who normally lives in an isolated area, theAssistance for Isolated Children Scheme is available for families withprimary, secondary and tertiary students. The tertiary student needs tobe either under the minimum age that the state or territory requires forhim or her to participate in education or training, or under 16 years ofage (whichever is the greater).If you care for someone who has a disability or a severe medicalcondition, you may be able to receive Carer Allowance. Carer Allowanceis not taxed, and income and assets tests do not apply.If you care for someone who has a disability or a severe medical conditionand you are unable to support yourself because of the demands of yourfull-time caring role, you may be able to receive Carer Payment. CarerPayment is taxed and income and assets tests apply.As a foster, relative or kinship carer, you may be eligible to receive ChildCare Benefit, which helps families with the cost of child care for long daycare, family day care, occasional care, outside school hours care, vacationcare and registered care.Concession card coverage for a child or young person in your care isavailable in a number of ways ― for example, by inclusion on your card (ifyou have one) or by applying for a Health Care Card specifically in thename of your child or young person in care.Double Orphan Pension helps you to meet the costs of caring for childrenand young people who are double orphans. It is not income or assetstested.As a foster, relative or kinship carer, you may be eligible for Family TaxBenefit Part A, which is designed to help families with the costs of childrenand is assessed on the combined family income.As a foster, relative or kinship carer you may also be eligible for FamilyTax Benefit Part B, which gives extra assistance to families with one mainincome, including single parents.If you are the primary carer of your grandchildren and receive an incomesupport payment, such as the Age Pension, then you may be entitled toGrandparent Child Care Benefit. It covers the total cost of approved childcare for up to 50 hours per child per week.Large Family Supplement is paid to families with three or more children.If as a foster, relative or kinship carer you are in this position, the LargeFamily Supplement may help you. It is paid in addition to Family TaxBenefit Part A.Maternity Immunisation Allowance is a one-off payment for children whohave been fully immunised at 18 months, or after 18 months, but beforetheir second birthday. It is not income or assets tested.Maternity Payment is paid to families following the birth (includingstillbirth) or adoption of a baby, and recognises the extra costs associatedwith the birth or adoption of a baby. It is not income or assets tested.Multiple Birth Allowance is paid to families with triplets or more until thechildren are six years old. It is paid in addition to Family Tax BenefitPart A.Seepage18393299173418202017322424247

Newstart AllowanceParenting PaymentTransition toIndependent LivingAllowanceNewstart Allowance is the main income support payment for unemployedpeople aged 21 years or over and below Age Pension age. To qualify forNewstart Allowance, you must be looking for work and participating inactivities designed to help you take on paid employment.As a foster, relative or kinship carer, you may be eligible for ParentingPayment, which is an income support payment designed specifically forpeople ― either single or partnered ― who have principal care of a child.At the same time, you may also be able to receive Family Tax Benefit.A young person leaving care and moving to independent living may beeligible for the Transition to Independent Living Allowance. This is aone-off support payment up to the value of $1,000. It is intended to helpmeet some of the young person’s transition costs.Youth Allowance Youth Allowance is available to young people aged between 16 and 24years (15 if independent) who are studying full-time or undertaking anAustralian Apprenticeship, and to young people aged 16 to 20 years (15 ifindependent) who are looking for work. Youth Allowance ensures youngpeople receive support while studying or looking for paid employment.It encourages young people to choose further education or training toimprove their qualifications for work.35354244CentrelinkCentrelink delivers a range of AustralianGovernment services and payments andallowances to the Australian community. As wellas the payments and allowances delivered bythe Family Assistance Office, Centrelink services,payments and allowances that may assist youinclude:• ABSTUDY• Advice from Financial Information ServiceOfficers• Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme• Carer Allowance• Carer Payment• Concession Cards• Newstart Allowance• Parenting Payment• Social work services• Youth Allowance.A range of helpful publications about paymentsand allowances, including current rates, is onthe Centrelink website or can be requesteddirect from Centrelink (see below for details).Family AssistanceOfficeThe Family Assistance Office is located inMedicare Offices, Centrelink Customer ServiceCentres and Tax Office Shopfronts andprovides access to the following payments andallowances:• Child Care Benefit• Double Orphan Pension• Family Tax Benefit• Grandparent Child Care Benefit• Large Family Supplement• Maternity Immunisation Allowance• Maternity Payment• Multiple Birth Allowance.A range of helpful publications about paymentsand allowances, including current rates, is onthe Family Assistance Office website or can berequested direct from the Family AssistanceOffice (see below for details).CentrelinkPhone 13 1021, 8 am to 8 pmMonday-FridayTTY 1800 810 586Multilingual services 12 1202www.centrelink.gov.auFamily Assistance OfficePhone 13 6150, 8 am to 8 pmMonday-FridayTTY 1800 810 586Multilingual services 12 1202www.familyassist.gov.auTo find out more about Australian Government payments and allowances, contactCentrelink or the Family Assistance Office. Information is also available from your fostercare agency and state or territory foster care association (see state and territory pages atthe end of this publication for contact details).8

Carer AllowanceCarer PaymentCarer Payment provides income support to people who, because of the demands of their caring role,are unable to support themselves through paid employment. It can be paid to a carer in respect of achild who is profoundly disabled or to an adult who has a disability or severe medical condition or whois frail aged. From 1 July 2006 Carer Payment (child) eligibility was extended to carers of children withsevere intellectual, psychiatric or behavioural disabilities who need constant supervision.Carer Payment is income and assets tested. As a foster, relative or kinship carer, you may do paid orvoluntary work, study or train for up to 25 hours a week without losing eligibility for Carer Payment.As well, you can take a break from caring for up to 63 days in a calendar year, and the child oryoung person in your care can be hospitalised for up to 63 days in a calendar year without you losingeligibility for Carer Payment. You may also get both Carer Payment and Carer Allowance, but youcannot get Carer Payment and any other Centrelink or Veterans’ Affairs pension at the same time.Carer Allowance is a supplementary payment to peoplewho provide daily care and attention at home for aperson with a disability or chronic medical condition. Tobe eligible for this payment for a child aged under 16years, the child must be a dependent on you as theircarer, and must live with you in a private home. Aswell, the child must have a disability that is permanentor likely to last for at least 12 months. You can take abreak from caring for up to 63 days in a calendar year,and the child that you are caring for can be hospitalisedfor up to 63 days in a calendar year without you losingeligibility for Carer Allowance. The allowance is notincome or assets tested and can be paid in addition to asocial security income support payment.If you are a foster, relative or kinship carer of a childaged under 16 years and do not qualify for CarerAllowance, you can still qualify for a Health Care Card ifthe child requires at least 14 hours per week of additionalcare and attention.For more information about either of theabove, phone Centrelink on 13 1021TTY 1800 810 586Multilingual Services 12 1202 or visit thewebsite at www.centrelink.gov.auThey havehelped over 250children. They have bighearts. If you need someoneto talk to, R--- and C--- are theones to talk to. Where I camefrom, home wasn’t really ahome, so this is the homeI know.B--- (24 yrs)Through the eyes offormer children incareWhen myparents split upit was very distraughttime for me and when I hadnowhere to go Aunty J--- tookme in and though she had alarge family, she made roomfor us so we had somewherewhere we were safe.K---9

Welfare to Work – Information for fostercarers on income support paymentsThe Australian Government announced a seriesof changes in the 2005–06 Budget to increasethe participation of parents on income supportin employment. Called ‘Welfare to Work’, thepackage of measures includes a requirementfor principal carer parents on income supportpayments ― such as Parenting Payment orNewstart Allowance, with a youngest child agedsix or over ― to look for, or undertake, parttimework of at least 15 hours a week. Principalcarer parents with a youngest child aged undersix years do not have to look for or undertakeany paid work.Note: If you are a parent who is also afoster carer, either on Parenting Payment orNewstart Allowance, automatic exemptionsfrom participation requirements are availableif you are ‘registered and active’ ― for moreinformation see the section on ‘Welfare toWork participationrequirements andfoster carers’.For Welfare toWork purposes,‘registered andactive’ relative andkinship carers aretreated the sameas foster carers andincluded under the single title.Welfare to Work arrangements for peopleon Parenting PaymentOn Parenting Payment before 1 July 2006Principal carers who were on Parenting Payment(Single or Partnered) before 1 July 2006 canstay on their payment until their youngest childturns 16 years as long as they continue to meetthe payment’s eligibility requirements.However, these parents are required to lookfor, or undertake, part-time work of at least15 hours a week, as part of their participationrequirements from 1 July 2007, or when theiryoungest child turns seven (whichever is later).New claimants of income support on or after1 July 2006From 1 July 2006, single parents can claimParenting Payment (Single) if their youngestchild is aged under eight years.When their youngest child turns six, thesesingle parents have a participation requirementto look for part-time work of at least 15 hoursbut are able to stay on Parenting Payment untiltheir youngest child turns eight. When theiryoungest child turns eight, they will have tomove to another payment, usually NewstartAllowance, but will continue to have the sameparticipation requirements.Single parents whose youngest child is eightyears or older are not eligible for ParentingPayment (Single) and will generally need toapply for Newstart Allowance and will haveparticipation requirements.However, single principal carer parents onNewstart Allowance will still get the:• Pensioner Concession Card• Pharmaceutical Allowance, and• Telephone Allowance.Parents who claim Parenting Payment(Partnered) will generally move on to NewstartAllowance and be required to look for parttimework of at least 15 hours per week oncetheir youngest child turns six. As NewstartAllowance is theTo be eligible for an exemption, youneed to be ‘registered’ with yourrelevant state or territory authorityand prove that you are ‘actively’involved in providing foster care.same amount asParenting Payment(Partnered), themaximum rate ofincome support forthese carers willnot change.Partnered parentswhose youngestchild is six years or older are not eligiblefor Parenting Payment (Partnered) and willgenerally need to apply for Newstart Allowanceand will have participation requirements.Welfare to Work measures only affect parentswho are on an income support payment, suchas Parenting Payment or Newstart Allowance.The changes do not affect their Family TaxBenefit payments. Principal carer parents whodo not receive income support payments do nothave a participation requirement such as jobsearch and will continue to receive Family TaxBenefit payments.Welfare to Work participation requirementsand foster carersThe Australian Government recognises thevery great value of the work done by parentswho are also foster, relative and kinship carers.Because of this, you can get an automaticexemption from participation requirementswhich apply to principal carer parents onParenting Payment or Newstart Allowancewhen you are ‘registered and active’ carers. Tobe eligible for an exemption, you need to be‘registered’ with your relevant state or territoryauthority and prove that you are ‘actively’involved in providing care (see section on Whatis a ‘registered and active’ foster carer? below).10

Initial exemptions are for up to 12 months andare then reviewed.If you are a single principal carer parent onNewstart Allowance ― including if you havemoved from Parenting Payment (Single) toNewstart Allowance when your youngestchild turns eight, and you have an automaticexemption from participation requirementsbecause of caring responsibilities ― you willbe paid a higher rate of Newstart Allowanceequivalent to the Parenting Payment (Single)rate.This higher rate recognises that ‘foster carer’single parents take on a greater role thanparents caring for their own children, and thelikely extra costs involved. This higher rate ofNewstart Allowance is only paid if you are afoster carer singleparent who hasan automaticexemption.Note: Any extraincome youearn is subjectto the NewstartAllowance incometest.If you have anexemption, butyou chose to lookfor paid work,the Governmentwill provide youwith assistance― that is, you willhave the same access to government-fundedemployment services as other parents onincome support.What is a ‘ registered and active’ fostercarer?Registered and active foster carers are definedas:• a person who meets the requirements ofthe law of the state or territory in which theperson resides in order to be permitted toprovide foster care in that state or territory,and• the person is actively involved in providingfoster care in that state or territory.To be eligible for an automatic exemption fromparticipation requirements, you must alsohave a child which qualifies you as a ‘principalcarer parent’ for income support purposes.Principal carer parents are recognised as theprincipal carer of a dependent child under theage of 16 years and are eligible to receiveincome support payments in relation to thecare of that child. If you are a ‘registeredand active’ foster carer but not considereda principal carer parent and do not receiveincome support in relation to a child, you arenot eligible for an automatic exemption fromparticipation requirements.‘Registered and active’ foster carer includesprincipal carer parents who are kinshipor relative carers, as well as emergencyand respite carers who care for childrenintermittently or irregularly. You need to haveformal documents to give to Centrelink froman authorised foster care agency in your stateor territory (this can be both government ornon-government agencies) confirming that youare ‘registeredand active’.Note: Centrelinkwill usedocuments fromthe relevantstate or territoryauthority todecide if you area ‘registered andactive’ fostercarer.What happensto carerswho are notconsideredregistered andactive?Automatic exemptions from participationrequirements should apply to you once yourstatus as a ‘registered and active’ foster careris verified.If as a principal carer parent, you have had achild placed in your care with the knowledgeof the relevant government authority in yourstate or territory, but you are not considered tobe a ‘registered and active’ foster carer in yourstate or territory, you are not eligible for anautomatic exemption. However, when caringfor a foster child affects your ability to work orlook for work, and a relevant state or territorygovernment department can provide evidence(such as a formal letter) to substantiateyour claim, then you may be eligible for ashort term, case-by-case exemption fromparticipation requirements. Depending onthe circumstances, these exemptions can berenewed.Note: If you are a single parent in thiscategory, you are not eligible for the higher11

ate of Newstart Allowance.If you are a parent on income support whoprovides informal care of a foster child in aprivate arrangement, you are not regarded asa ‘registered and active’ foster carer and youare not eligible for an automatic exemption fromparticipation requirements.For how long can I get exemptions fromparticipation requirements?While the maximum period of exemption fromparticipation requirements is up to 12 months,it is not always appropriate to grant a 12-monthexemption to all parents who are ‘registeredand active’ foster carers. Discretion is usedto ensure that an exemption only applies tothe period that the foster carer is likely toprovide care ― for example, if the state orterritory documents indicate that as a fostercarer you are only likely to be actively involvedin providing care for the next four months,an automatic exemption from participationrequirements is usually granted for those fourmonths.Are exemptions renewable?Yes. When you continue in your foster caringrole, the relevant authority verifies or renewsyour status as ‘registered and active’. Theauthority writes to you about the decisionto renew your ‘registered and active’ statusfor a particular period (usually another six to12 months). To renew your exemption as afoster carer, you should submit your letter toCentrelink.Note: Some states and territories have differentreview periods, although all reviews occur atleast once every 12 months.Are there rules for foster carers who move,or live, interstate?Yes. If this applies to you, contact Centrelink formore information.What documents are needed by Centrelinkin my state or territory to register as anactive foster carer?Depending on which state or territory you livein, you may get the documents you need forCentrelink automatically (whether or not you areon income support), or you may have to contactthe relevant government or non-governmentfoster care authority and get them to send thedocuments to you.The table on the next page outlines the requireddocumentation for each state and territory.For more information, phone Centrelink on 13 1021TTY 1800 810 586Multilingual Services 12 1202 or visit the website atwww.centrelink.gov.auI was a very shy and emotional littlegirl. I guess I was afraid. My memoriesbefore entering care were not exactly goodones. I needed a lot of encouragement andreassurance. I remember always cryingand it wasn’t just for a few minutes, I’dcry for ages. I was scared of other kidsbecause I had been beaten up. We all hadout fair share of ups and downs but theconsistency and perseverance from J--- andM--- helped me to deal with my emotions. Iworked, I turned out OK and it has givenme the grounding for bringing up my ownfamily. D---12

Documents that Centrelink in each state andterritory will look for from foster carers forWelfare to Work exemptionsState Documentation Required Relevant AuthoritiesACTNSWNTQLDSATASVICWALetter, on official letterhead, issued bythe Department of Disability, Housing andCommunity Services stating that you areconsidered ‘registered and active’.Letter, on official letterhead, issued by one ofNSW’s relevant authorities stating that you areconsidered ‘registered and active’.Letter, on official letterhead, issued by theDepartment of Health and Community Servicesstating that you are considered ‘registered andactive’.• Certificate of Approval as a Foster Carer, or• Certificate of Approval as a Kinship Carer, or• Certificate of Approval as a ProvisionallyApproved Carer, and• Letter, on official letterhead, issued by theDepartment of Child Safety stating that you areconsidered ‘registered and active’.• Certificate of registration; and• Letter, on official letterhead, issued by one ofSA’s relevant authorities stating that you areconsidered ‘registered and active’.Letter, on official letterhead, issued by one ofTasmania’s relevant authorities stating that youare considered ‘registered and active’.Letter, on official letterhead, issued by one ofVictoria’s relevant authorities stating that you areconsidered ‘registered and active’.Letter issued by the Department for CommunityDevelopment stating that you are considered‘registered and active’.• Department of Disability, Housing andCommunity Services.• Department of Community Services; or• Approved non-government foster careagencies in NSW (available at the Officeof the Children’s Guardianwebsite www.kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au).• Department of Health and CommunityServices.• Department of Child Safety.• Department of Families andCommunities; or• Approved non-government foster careagencies in South Australia. Centrelinkwill have a list of approved agencies.• Department of Health and HumanServices;• The following non-government fostercare agencies in Tasmania:Kennerley Children’sHome Inc – Claremont;Glenhaven Family Care Inc – Devonport;Placement and SupportServices – Hobart.• Department of Human Services; or• Approved non-government foster careagencies in Victoria. Centrelink has a listof approved agencies.• Department for CommunityDevelopment.For contact information relating to the departments named in the table above see the stateand territory pages at the back of this publication13

Jenniebirth childof foster carersJennie says there was one big drawback in sharing herteenage years with four young foster children. ‘I tellpeople I was put through torture having to play withBarbie dolls when I was 16!’Other than that, Jennie, now 24, is hard pressed to recallany regrets. She was 12 years old when her parents,in the course of exploring their own Aboriginality, wereasked to foster four Aboriginal siblings, aged from two toseven.‘It wasn’t just a thing where my parents said “We aredoing this”. It was “How would you feel about havingmore kids in the house?” It was a group decision.’Jennie was the youngest of three. She had a sister two years older, and abrother who had already left home.‘At that young age it was exciting. I was the baby, and I thought “I can havesomeone younger than me, who I can teach things to”. I’d always had peoplesaying I couldn’t do things because I was the baby, but now I could prove that Iwas getting older.’There was another imperative. ‘I remember sitting down and talking with mysister about what it would be like if we didn’t have a Mum and Dad, or a family,to look after us.’‘All through school, if there were kids suffering in Rwanda or wherever, I wasthe one who came home and raided the cupboard for things to put under theChristmas Giving Tree.’There were still some big adjustments. The new family members - three boysand a girl - all suffered from Foetal Alcohol Syndrome, and had varying degreesof developmental delay. ‘In many ways they were like babies, so I went frombeing a kid just mucking around, to changing nappies. It was all hands ondeck.’Jennie says she pretty much sacrificed the usual teenage pursuits. ‘My friendswere going out and being really stupid and I thought “Nuh, I’ve got these littlebrothers and sister and they’ve missed out on what I’ve had so far.”’‘The two youngest boys didn’t have much speech. I became their speechtherapist, and did lots of work with them, trying to get them to make the rightsounds. It was kind of like a pet project. It was good because you see themnow, reading and talking, and knowing you had a hand in that….’Jennie is still at home, still helping, and also at university studying law. ‘I wantto do family law. People at the foster care association say they want me torepresent foster carers! But I’m also interested in youth justice.’‘I don’t want the big law firms. I’d rather deal with people that don’t havemoney, and the cases that everyone won’t touch. They’re the ones that areforgotten and need to be helped.’From time to time Jennie gets teased about not having a boyfriend. She’s keento have her own children, but says she’ll need to find the right guy. ‘Whoever Iend up with, they’ll get to take on my younger brothers and sister.’‘Ben, who’s turning 15 this year, keeps telling me that Mum and Dad willeventually not be able to look after him, so he’s going to come and live in mygarage, wherever I am.’14

Laurel,LaurelJennie’s MumNone of the family knew just how hard raising thesefour children would be. Laurel, Jennie’s mother, saysshe was not told by the Family Services Departmenthow high their needs were. The middle boy, Toby, hascerebral palsy, epilepsy and a mental illness, althoughhis age precludes a proper diagnosis.The youngest, Charlie, is now 12, not fully toilettrained,and ‘masturbates constantly’. ‘It makes it reallydifficult if you want to go out for coffee,’ says Laurel.The relationship with the eldest, Julie, has all butbroken down. She has left home and is in and out ofthe juvenile justice system. ‘I know that Jennie stillworries about her.’Laurel says she would not have taken the children on ifthey’d been the same ages as her own children. ‘It wouldhave been really hard with my girls, to treat them as equal with kidswho are disadvantaged and have got disabilities.’Instead, her two daughters have been able to ease the burden.‘Jennie just threw herself into it. She’s receptive to anyone, andshe likes to mother, nurture and teach. She’s always teaching thempainting or something or other.’‘Kristie, my older daughter, is not so child-focussed. But even nowwhen she’s playing softball, for instance, she’ll take the youngestfellow with her to the games.’Both girls, as young teens, received the same intensive trainingthat their parents had, for three weeks before the children arrived.Ever since, Jennie has been attending meetings and doctors’appointments with her parents, listening and taking notes. Heradvocacy has led to roles in youth policy and job selection panels.Her sister Kristie worked in Centrelink for some years, and was asource of information for the foster care community. Laurel believesher daughters’ fostering experience has given them important lifeskills, knowledge of systems, and an awareness of the problemsfaced by a sector of the population they might not have otherwiseencountered.Was there ever resentment? Laurel doesn’t think so. She says thather daughters’ lives improved because she stopped working andwas there when they came home from school. Occasional holidaysand ‘adult time’, for the original family, are still possible duringrespite care.‘Fostering has made the kids stronger, and more tolerant. And allthree of them talk about “my brothers and sister”.’15

The inside journey throughfoster careJennifer McIntosh, Ph.D.(Extracts from the paper: ‘The inside journey through care’,Children Australia, vol. 28, no.3.)There are countless reasons for children being on the roadof alternative care, and equally countless departure points,routes and destinations. Journeys in care may span a fewdays or weeks and be relatively uncomplicated. Conversely,they may be long, arduous and lonely journeys, spanningyears, with no fixed address.Along the way, some children manage well to carry their ownemotional baggage, despite its bulk. For other children, theirbaggage is too heavy, and the weight of the load wreakshavoc with their development. Sometimes, by the time theymeet with good enough care, it can take a while before thesechildren can relax and make use of it.How can a child recover from a journey like that? Well the good news is that they can and do: throughthe right type of foster care relationships. And it’s attachment that makes the difference.The attachment relationship: what it feels like and how it growsDr Jennifer McIntoshAttachment is a bond, different from liking someone, loving someone or even trusting someone. In it’shealthiest form, it is all of these things, but first and foremost, it is a bond of psychological dependence.Infants and children need to feel securely attached in their placements, even in short term care.In longer term placements, the recovery that children can make through a good attachment relationshipis astounding, and it’s this change that makes it all worthwhile, for everyone.Over time, in stable, good quality placements, foster children begin to feel attached to their carer, usuallyat a personally challenging time, when they want and need comfort. Even though the child often can’tindicate clearly that they need comfort, the carer reads the signals, and responds in a timely, empathicmanner.For the foster child, that often feels like a new experience, and as it is repeated time and again, thesechildren come to feel linked with the foster parent in a manner which stands out completely from theirprior journey. Before that placement, when they were in need, the child expected disappointment. Intheir secure foster placement, children are often surprised and relieved that their needs are understood,and responded to. The foster parent becomes a caring presence in the face of an anticipated absence.The journey toward attachment from the perspective of carers is often not straightforward. These childrencan be passive or confused or angry about how to get the care they need. In successful placements,attachment is forged by the foster parent being able to share an emotional space with the child. Thecarer gently persists with the child, and ‘gets through’ to them, partnering the child in their experience.These children don’t just feel cared for, they feel cared about. The child begins to know that they matter,that they are a significant and irreplaceable part of the foster parent’s life. In this, the foster child beginsto feel ‘normal’ and ‘real’, and finally, some of their fears about being a ‘foster kid’ are dismantled. Theresult for the child is a renewal in energy, the feeling of being unburdened and an ability and desire to goon. Now that’s worth it!Jennifer McIntosh is a child clinical psychologist. Shedirects the Family Transitions Attachment Clinic inMelbourne. She is an Adjunct Associate Professor atLa Trobe University and Associate Senior Lecturer atthe University of Melbourne.Contact: enquiries@familytransitions.com.au16

Child SupportSchemeThe Australian Government’s Child SupportScheme aims to ensure that the children ofseparated parents are adequately supportedaccording to their parents’ capacity to do so.The Child Support Agency administers thescheme by:• registering cases• assessing child support payable• collecting payments where requested• providing information on child supportmatters.If you are a non-parent carer (such as agrandparent) you may be eligible to receivechild support payments from either or both ofthe child’s parents if you care for the child for atleast 110 nights in the 12 months following anapplication for a child support assessment.It may be possible for you to receive childsupport even if the child’s parents or legalguardians don’t consent to the child beingin your care ― for example, it may beunreasonable for the child to live at home. Thiscould be because there has been an extremefamily breakdown or there is a serious risk tothe child’s physical or mental well-being fromviolence or sexual abuse in the home of theparent or legal guardian.The Australian Government recently announcedreforms to the Child Support Scheme. As partof the reforms, a new formula for assessingchild support will be introduced in July 2008.Non-parent carers who have at least 35 per centcare of a child may be entitled to receive childsupport under the new formula.Based on its assessment of the circumstances,the Child Support Agency makes the decisionabout whether you as a non-parent carercan receive child support. Some states andterritories have different rules that may affectwhether you are eligible.For more information about the ChildSupport Scheme, phone the Child SupportAgency on 13 1272, TTY 1800 631 187,Translating and Interpreting Services13 1450 or visit the website atwww.csa.gov.auChild Care BenefitChild Care Benefit assists families with theirchild care costs. It helps families to balancework and family life and also providesopportunities for children’s learning anddevelopment. As a foster, relative or kinshipcarer, you may be eligible for Child Care Benefitwhen you use approved child care or registeredchild care and meet the necessary immunisationand residency qualification criteria.Your entitlement to Child Care Benefit willdepend on your family income, the type andamount of care you use and whether you usethe care for work or for other reasons. Fostercare subsidies and allowances paid by stateand territory governments are not countedas income for the purposes of Child CareBenefit. Your state or territory governmentmay also provide financial assistance for childcare. Check with your local state or territorygovernment or foster care organisation.Phone the Child Care Access Hotline on1800 670 305 to find out about:• child care services in your area• the various types of child care available suchas long day care, family day care, in-homecare, outside school hours care and occasionalcare• Australian Government help with the cost ofchild care• any quality of care issues.Additional help for grandparents with childcare costsGrandparents who have the primaryresponsibility for raising and caring for agrandchild (or children) can receive additionalhelp through Child Care Benefit with the costs ofapproved child care. This assistance recognisesthe significant contribution grandparent carersmake by caring for two generations.If you are a grandparent who has the primarycare of your grandchild (or children), the ChildCare Benefit work/training/study test will bewaived so you can access up to 50 hours ofChild Care Benefit for each child in approvedchild care per week.In addition, if you are an eligible grandparentcarer who receives an income support paymentfrom Centrelink or the Department of Veterans’Affairs, then you may be able to receiveGrandparent Child Care Benefit, which coversthe full cost of approved child care for up to 50hours per child per week.For information about Australian Government approved child care services and vacanciesin your area, phone the Child Care Access Hotline on 1800 670 305, TTY 1800 639 327For information about eligibility for Child Care Benefit and Grandparent Child Care Benefitphone Family Assistance Office on 13 6150, TTY 1800 810 586,Multilingual Services 12 1202 or visit the website at www.familyassist.gov.au17

30% Child Care Tax RebateThe Child Care Tax Rebate is 30% of your out-of-pocket child care expenses for approved child care.The rebate is up to $4,000 per child per year, and it is indexed each year. Out-of-pocket expensesare child care fees not already covered by the Child Care Benefit or any other financial assistancefor child care provided to you.The rebate is not a ‘cash in hand’ refund. It is a tax offset that reduces your tax in the year it isclaimed.To be eligible to claim the rebate in the 2005-06 income tax return, for example, you must have:• used approved child care in 2004-05, and• received Child Care Benefit, and• passed the Child Care Benefit work/training/study test.For more information about Child Care Benefit or the Child Care Benefit work/training/study test,phone the Family Assistance Office on 13 6150 or visit the website at www.familyassist.gov.au.When you claim the rebate on your tax return, you can confirm your Child Care Benefit entitlementand child care fee information by visiting the Family Assistance Office website atwww.familyassist.gov.au. You can also use ‘e-tax’ to download your 30% Child Care Tax Rebateinformation from the Family Assistance Office into your tax return. If you agree, your registered taxagent can also have access to the same information. If you use your own records, keep your childcare fee receipts and similar details, as well as your end-of-financial year Child Care Benefit lettersent to you by the Family Assistance Office.If you are not required to lodge a tax return you can transfer your rebate to your spouse. To dothis, use the 30% Child Care Tax Rebate transfer advice in e-tax. Or you can get a printed copyof the 30% child care tax rebate instructions and transfer advice 2006 (NAT 14719-6.2006) byphoning the Tax Office (see details below).For more information about the 30% Child Care Tax Rebate, phone the Australian TaxationOffice on 13 2861, TTY 13 3677 or Translating and Interpreting Services 13 1450, or visitits website at www.ato.gov.auDouble Orphan PensionDouble Orphan Pension provides assistance to people caring for children who are double orphans. Toqualify for Double Orphan Pension, both the parents of the child in your care must no longer be living,or one of the child’s parents must no longer be living and the other must be unable to assume caringresponsibilities. This might be because of long term imprisonment, residential or psychiatric care,or because the parent’s whereabouts is unknown. Some refugee children may also be considered asdouble orphans. This payment is not income or assets tested.For more information, phone the Family Assistance Office on13 6150, TTY 1800 810 586, Multilingual Services 12 1202 or visit itswebsite at www.familyassist.gov.auA tribute to my carer, D---I can barely begin to tell you how much having D---- inmy life means to me because even now I have tears surfacingaround my eyes. The most beautiful lesson D--- taught meis that ‘failure’ is disguised as opportunity to begin againwith more intelligence. D--- NEVER gave up on me but mostimportantly she NEVER let me give up. Everything she hasshared with me has aided me in growth and helped me gainan all-important sense of perspective, understanding andacceptance. R--- (22 yrs)18

Defining featuresof Australian fostercarers: child-centredaltruism, commitment,persistence andempathyRos Thorpe, Professor of Social Work and CommunityWelfare, James Cook University and Chief Investigator,Mackay/Whitsunday Foster Care Research ProjectFor well over a decade foster care, includingcare by relatives, has been the dominant form ofcare for Australian children unable to live with anatural parent. Furthermore, in recent years arapidly increasing number of children has enteredProfessor Ros Thorpeout-of-home care. In consequence, foster care hascome to be regarded as a major human service, to be treasured and nurtured, especially sincethere is a dwindling number of people willing to become foster carers, and the fostering role hasbecome complex and challenging.Gone are the days when fostering could be conflated with ‘mothering’ and ‘ordinary parenting’(Boddy, Cameron and Moss 2006). What is needed now are abilities to provide sophisticated carefor children with complex needs, including the need to retain connections with family, kin andculture.Such are the demands of current day fostering that two thirds of foster carers interviewedin a recent research study (Thorpe 2004) considered that fostering should be regarded as aprofessional role requiring education and training, respect as equal members of the child welfareteam, professional supervision, and support for the valuable job that they do. As one foster carereloquently put it, ‘we should be considered experts in foster care; as social workers are experts insocial work’.Regardless of any personal needs that drew them to fostering, child-centred altruism, strongcommitment to the children in their care, and persistence in ‘walking the distance with thesekids’ were found to be the defining features of the vast majority of foster carers (Thorpe 2004).Additionally, some foster carers expressed outstanding empathy with natural parents of thechildren in their care and recognised a place for much greater support for families with complicatedlives, in order to prevent the need for out-of-home care or to facilitate the restoration of childrenhome to their families (Thorpe, Klease and Westerhuis 2005).Plainly, the current situation of increasing numbers of children entering care, and reliance onfoster care as the major mode of care, is unsustainable. A greater diversity of services needs to bedeveloped. Far more attention should be given to preventive family support. In this regard, fostercarers have much to offer, not only in terms of good quality out-of-home care for children andyoung people, but also through extending the professional role of empathic foster carers to includefamily support ‘care work’ (Boddy et al 2006, Lovatt 2004).Boddy J, Cameron C. and Moss P. (2006) Care Work: Present and Future. London: Routledge.Lovatt H. (2005) Foster Carer Support: What it is, what it is not, and what it could be. Paper presented atthe Centre for Research on Community and Children’s Services (CROCCS) 3rd International Child and FamilyServices Conference, Challenging Practices, Mackay, 6-8th August. www.croccs.org.auThorpe R. (2004) ‘You Have To Be Crackers.’ Carer experiences in the foster care system. Paper presented atthe Australian Foster Care Association Inc. National Conference, Walking Together: People, Policy and Practice,Canberra, 29-31 October.Thorpe R. and Klease C. with Westerhuis D. (2005) Challenging Practice in Foster care: Foster Carers’Reflections on Working with a Child’s Natural Family. Paper presented at the Centre for Research on Communityand Children’s Services (CROCCS) 3rd International Child and Family Services Conference, ChallengingPractices, Mackay, 6-8th August. www.croccs.org.au19

Family Tax BenefitFamily Tax Benefit Part AThe Australian Government’s Family Tax BenefitPart A helps families with the cost of raisingchildren. Families who are entitled to Family TaxBenefit Part A may also receive extra assistancethrough the Large Family Supplement, MultipleBirth Allowance and Rent Assistance. FamilyTax Benefit Part A may be paid to families whohave a dependent child aged under 21 years ora qualifying dependent full-time student aged 21to 24 years.The amount of Family Tax Benefit Part A you canget depends on your family’s income. For the2006-07 financial year, to get the maximum rateof Family Tax Benefit Part A, your family incomemust be $40,000 or less. Payments are reducedby 20 cents for each dollar above $40,000 untilthe base rate is reached. It is paid at this leveluntil your family income reaches $88,622 (plusan extra $3,504 for each dependent child afterthe first child). If your family includes onechild aged under 18 years you can earn up to$94,718 before your yearly entitlement endsentirely.To be eligible for Part A, your dependent childmust be aged under 21 years, or a qualifyingfull-time student aged 21 to 24 years. The childor student must not:• receive a pension, or labour market relatedpayment or allowance such as YouthAllowance, or• be aged five to 15 years and not studyingfull-time, and their yearly income is more than$11,548 (for the 2006-07 financial year), or• be aged 16 to 24 years and their yearlyincome is more than $11,548 (for the 2006-07financial year), or they are receiving aPrescribed Education Scheme payment such asABSTUDY.Family Tax Benefit Part BFamily Tax Benefit Part B provides extraassistance to single parent families and twoparent families with one main income whereone parent chooses to stay at home or balancesome paid work with caring for children. Ahigher rate of Family Tax Benefit Part B is paid ifyour youngest child is aged under 5. Family TaxBenefit Part B may be paid for a dependent childaged under 16 years or a qualifying dependentstudent up to the age of 18 years who doesn’tget Youth Allowance or a similar payment.For the 2006-07 financial year, to receive themaximum rate of Family Tax Benefit Part B, yourfamily’s lower income earner can earn $4,234before payments are affected. Earnings above$4,234 reduce your entitlement by 20 centsfor each dollar earned over this amount. Youstill get some Family Tax Benefit Part B if yourearnings are no more than $21,572 and youryoungest child is aged under five years. Ifyour youngest child is aged between five and18 years (who doesn’t get Youth Allowance ora similar payment) you can earn up to $16,790and still get some Family Tax Benefit Part B.Single parent families always get the maximumrate of Family Tax Benefit Part B, according tothe age of their child.Entitlement of foster carers to Family TaxBenefitAs a carer, your entitlement to Family TaxBenefit Part A and Part B depends on a numberof factors, including your family’s income andwhether the care is considered ‘formal’ or‘informal’.Foster care subsidies and allowances paid bystate or territory governments are not countedin the income test for Family Tax Benefit. Aswell, the Australian Taxation Office does notconsider these allowances as assessable incomefor tax purposes.For more information about Family Tax Benefit,income and taxation, phone the FamilyAssistance Office on 13 6150, or visit thewebsite at www.familyassist.gov.au.Important: It is a good idea to contact theFamily Assistance Office before you claim FamilyTax Benefit to make sure that the circumstancesrelating to each case are taken into accountwhen decisions are made about paying FamilyTax Benefit in foster, relative or kinship caresituations.Family Tax Benefit and formal care‘Formal care’ is where the change of care islegally approved and involves a change inlegal responsibility for a child in care (whetherday-to-day and/or long term). As a foster,relative or kinship carer, you need to confirmwith Centrelink your responsibility for a child byproviding documents from a state or territorychild welfare authority or a court, for example,the Family Law Court. These documents fromthe state and territory authority, or the courtorder, set out your legal right or responsibility tocare for the child.In formal care situations, Family Tax Benefitis paid from the date the child first enters intoyour care for the relevant dates provided insupporting documentation. If the child movesfrom your care to another carer, the Family TaxBenefit ‘follows’ the child and is paid to the newcarer from then on.Documents that the Family Assistance Officeneeds from you may include:• an original letter on the official letterheadof the state or territory child welfareauthority, which provides details of the child’splacement with you and the approved dates ofplacement, or20

• the relevant court orders, if available. If thecourt orders do not name you as the carer, aseparate letter from the child welfare authoritymay be needed linking you with the child.Example 1: Simon is removed from the care ofhis mother, Denise, by a state authority and isplaced in temporary foster care with Tracey.The next day, the Children’s Court orders thatSimon remain in the care (legal responsibility)of the state welfare authority for two months.Tracey provides a letter from the authoritystating Simon is to remain in her care for thosetwo months. Tracey is therefore eligible forFamily Tax Benefit from the date the courtmakes its order.Example 2: Brianna, aged 15, entered the careof a state welfare department on 1 October.On 3 October the Children’s Court made thefollowing orders:• that legal responsibility for Brianna beallocated to the Minister (that is the state orterritory government Minister responsible forchildren’s welfare issues) until Brianna turns18• that the Minister be responsible for residence,financial and contact arrangements, and• that Brianna’s mother be responsible forreligious matters and that she take sharedresponsibility with the Minister for medical,educational and training arrangements.Based on the court orders, the Minister gainedlegal responsibility for Brianna and her careis ‘delegated’ to a foster carer. Family TaxBenefit for Brianna is paid to the carer from 3October. If, later on, Brianna moves into thecare of another foster carer, Family Tax Benefitis paid to the second carer from the date thecare arrangements change. In this situation,Brianna’s mother cannot get Family Tax Benefit.Family Tax Benefit and informal care‘Informal care’ is a private arrangement betweenthe parent and another party, where there isno change to any form of legal responsibility.Informal carers are usually grandparents,other relatives, or family friends. Under thesearrangements, whether Family Tax Benefit canbe paid to the new carer depends on whetherthe care is temporary and short term, orongoing.When it is clear that the child will be in ongoingcare with you as the new carer, Family TaxBenefit is paid from the date the child entersyour care. However, in informal, but temporaryand short term care situations, the question ofwho gets paid Family Tax Benefit depends onthe care arrangements and how long the childspends out of the parent’s care.Care that is temporary and short termWhere possible, Family Tax Benefit should bepaid to the person who has the actual care ofa child. However, in some cases, a parent whodoes not have the care for a child will continueto get Family Tax Benefit ― for example, whenthe change of care is temporary and short termAND the intention is that the child will returnto the parent within a short time. However,in all but very special circumstances, the totaltemporary and short term absence should notbe more than four weeks. After this, the actualcarer should get the Family Tax Benefit.If a state or territory agency organises a child’splacement but does not have legal responsibilityfor the child, it is considered informal care. Thisoccurs when parents have respite or place thechild in respite or short term care, and mayinclude placements in the care of grandparentsor relatives.Example 1: Belinda has two young children.One of the children has a severe disability. Thestate government helps to arrange two weeksof respite care for that child so that Belinda canhave a break. Belinda continues to get FamilyTax Benefit for both children as she has legalresponsibility for the children.Example 2: Terri is a single parent of her12-year old son Jack. Terri has to go into21

hospital and will not be able to care for Jack.She makes arrangements for a friend of thefamily to look after Jack for three weeks whileshe receives treatment for her illness. Terricontinues to get Family Tax Benefit for Jack.In some situations, when the care is temporaryand short term or the period of care is unknown,AND the parent does not want to get Family TaxBenefit, the new carer may be eligible for FamilyTax Benefit.Ongoing careWhen it is clear that a child will be in ongoingcare with you, then as the carer, you will beeligible for Family Tax Benefit from the datethe child enters your care. When care wastemporary and short term, but later you haveongoing care, the ‘change of care’ applies fromthe date when the care becomes ongoing andFamily Tax Benefit is paid to you as the carer.Example 1: Sean is a single parent caring forhis 14-year old son, Zack. Sean has to go intorehabilitation for three months. While he is inrehabilitation, Zack is cared for by his aunt.In this case, his aunt is eligible for Family TaxBenefit from the date Zack enters her care.Example 2: Following an abusive relationship,Sharon is unable to care for her three childrenand she agrees to leave them in the care oftheir paternal grandparents. Although no timeframe has been set, it is considered an ongoingarrangement. The grandparents become eligiblefor Family Tax Benefit from the date the childrenenter their care.Important: Make sure that you give the FamilyAssistance Office full details, so they can decidewhether the care is temporary and short term,or ongoing.In cases where the care arrangements are indispute, a quick determination by the FamilyAssistance Office about who is eligible forFamily Tax Benefit lessens the possibility thatprevious carers will have to pay back largeoverpayments.For more information, phone the Family Assistance Office on 13 6150,TTY 1800 810 586, Multilingual services 12 1202, or visit the website atwww.familyassist.gov.au‘Weaving history’ by Katie Pring (young Aboriginal carer and artist)This painting represents different aspects of culture and learning, and thedifferent paths and obstacles that one may come accross in the journey toachieving goals and dreams.22

Caring forIndigenous kidsMore foster carers is perhaps the biggest challenge facinga dynamic Aborignal leader of a not-for-profit agency whichrecruits, manages and supports Aboriginal foster carers. With aprofessional background in South Australian Government jobs,mainly in policy and strategy, Sharron Williams has been the CEOof Aboriginal Family Support Services (AFSS) for eight years.‘We have about 100 active foster carers at any one time. Weneed double that,’ Sharron said.Her organisation’s services include youth accommodation, parenteducation, support for disenfranchised men and foster care.The South Australian Department for Families and Communitiesattempts to place Aboriginal children with relatives first. If that is not possible, they are referred to AFSS.‘Generally, Aboriginal kids are six or seven times more likely to come into foster care than other kids.But our capacity to recruit carers is far less, because we’re a small community and fragmented in manyways.’The agency has helped develop a new culturally specific assessment tool for prospective carers, called a‘Yarning Journey’. Instead of a ‘severe questionnaire’ where the interviewer writes down the answers, theinterviewer now sits and listens, then comes back a couple of days later and says ‘This is what I believeyou were saying to me about your experiences growing up as a child’. It is a more personal approach, shesays, and less threatening.Once appointed, a carer will receive cultural orientation training through the agency, and will later beguided through any reunification of children with their birth parents – and they, too, are supported. ‘Quiteoften there’s shared care between the birth family and foster carer. Then the pendulum shifts, so thebirth parent takes more of a role, but the foster carer stays on as a respite carer.’Sharron Williams says a key challenge is reconciling cultural differences. ‘In recruitment of foster carers,you have to meet Department standards. In the Aboriginal community it’s about the capacity to nurture,and sharing and caring. With white society it’s more material – are there enough bedrooms, enoughspace in the wardrobe for this child’s clothes.’‘Quite often we, or the foster parents, know the children coming into care. There are often relationships,through skin or kin. When the placement is ordered by the state, as opposed to a voluntary order, thehostility can be quite horrific.’‘I always advise foster parents not to get themselves into awkward situations. I say “remember your firstresponsibility is to the children”. When there’s a community function, and the birth family is likely to bethere and there’s hostility, we say to the carer: “Be there early in the day, not late, when there may besome drinking going on.”’It is also important to bring some joy and frivolity to the lives of both the carers and the children. Thereare Family Fun Days and other events which help siblings stay in contact and lift everybody’s spirits. ‘Ifchildren are more content, it’s easier for the carers.’Getting together through the agency’s networks gives a sense of belonging and identity to children, whichSharron believes too many are missing out on. Her family comes from a small coastal community on theYorke Peninsular, and on childhood visits there her connections and ancestry were explained to her. ‘Iknow where I fit in back there, how I’m related to people. You feel proud of that.’Her goal, and motivation, is clear.‘Aboriginal children deserve the bestparenting.’Sharron Williams has been ChiefExecutive Officer of Aboriginal FamilySupport Services, South Australia for8 yearsThere is a growing number ofAboriginal family care services aroundAustralia.Aboriginal Family Support Services(AFSS), is a not-for-profit agency inAdelaide.For other contact details see page 39.23

MaternityPaymentMaternity Payment recognises the extra costsassociated with the birth or adoption of a baby.It is a non income tested lump sum payment.Maternity Payment is intended to benefit theprimary carer. A natural parent, or an adoptiveparent, or you as a long term foster, relative orkinship carer ― or in some cases more than oneof these ― could qualify for Maternity Paymentfor a baby.Maternity Payment is payable to:• a parent of the baby, or• families who have care of a newborn babywithin 13 weeks of the baby’s birth, and arelikely to continue to have care of the baby forno less than 13 weeks, or• families who have a child entrusted to theircare for adoption before the child is twoyears of age and, in the case of an overseasadoption, the child must enter Australia beforethe child’s second birthday.The claim must be made within 26 weeks of thebaby’s birth, or, in the case of a local adoption,within 26 weeks of the baby coming into thecare of the adoptive family. For an overseasadoption, the claim must be made within 26weeks of the child entering Australia.In deciding whether Maternity Payment shouldbe paid to an individual other than the parent,consideration is specifically given to:• who has legal responsibility• whether the child is being considered foradoption.When a child is being considered for adoption,the child can be placed in pre-adoptive fostercare. If you are a carer in this situation, youwould not normally be eligible for MaternityPayment. This type of care involves atemporary change of care while adoptionarrangements are established. MaternityPayment is actually intended for the primarycarer, whether this is the natural parent, or theadoptive parent, or a longer term foster, relativeor kinship carer, or in some cases more than oneof these.‘I had yet to experience so many of thethings that eight-year olds take for granted’MaternityImmunisationAllowanceMaternity Immunisation Allowance is a nonincome tested, one-off payment to encourageimmunisation in children. As a foster, relativeor kinship carer, you are eligible for MaternityImmunisation Allowance if:• the child has turned 18 months and is fullyimmunised• you make a claim for the child before the childin your care turns two years of age.Only one carer can qualify for MaternityImmunisation Allowance, except in sharedcare situations where the payment can be splitaccording to the percentage of care each personprovides.Multiple BirthAllowanceAs a foster, relative or kinship carer, you areeligible for Multiple Birth Allowance if you havethree or more children born during the samebirth who are aged under six. This is paid inaddition to any Family Tax Benefit Part A thatyou may be entitled to.For more information about any of thesupport schemes on this page, phone theFamily Assistance Officeon 13 6150 TTY 1800 810 586Multilingual Services 12 1202 or visit thewebsite atwww.familyassist.gov.auI first went in to care as a shy eight-year old,joining two other boys who were already incare. During those very early days it was hardfor me. I had never really been to school. I hadnever spent a night away from my mother,and had yet to experience so many of thethings that eight-year olds take for granted.Reflecting back now I see how C--- recognizedthe difficulties I was experiencing, providedas much support as I needed but was carefulnot to smother me, to maintain respect formy birth mother, and to guide me as I enteredinto an unknown and scary world of school,psychologists and social workers.J--- (27yrs)Eliza24

Elizabethzabeth, veteran carer of babies‘I don’t know when foster carers retire – whenyou’re too old to pick the baby up out of the cot, orget the pram out of the boot?’Elizabeth is 68, and this year she clocks up fortyyears of caring for babies. ‘It feels like I’ve nevernot done it! I started fostering when my own lastchild was nearly four.’Her enthusiasm for the role has not diminished.‘Newborns are my favourites. I love to get themstraight from hospital. I don’t know why. WhenI was young I was the kid in the street that hadeveryone playing in my front yard while I pushednext door’s baby in the pram. Before marrying Itrained as a nurse at the Children’s Hospital. Somepeople are just here for that reason – caring forchildren – and I’m one of those people. This iswhat I’m good at.’Elizabeth can also laugh at how this lifetime ofbaby care has affected her. ‘I can’t walk past ababy wear shop. My wardrobe of baby clothes isbigger than my own wardrobe! And I’m alwaysknitting for them.’‘One day I was standing alone in the line at thesupermarket with a cabbage under my arm. Iheard a baby crying in one of the aisles and startedrocking the cabbage.’‘Another day, before air conditioning in cars, I wason my own in my car with the windows down ona hot day, stopped at a railway crossing. As thetrain went past I said “Toot toot!”, because I wasso used to having a little one in the back seat. Thebloke in the car opposite went “Toot toot” back atme!’Elizabeth’s fostering career covers the full historyof care. She began through a major women’shospital in the 1960s, when adoption prevailed.The law in her state had changed, so that mothersof newborns considering adoption had 28 days tobe sure. ‘All these little babies were lying in wardsof the hospital, not progressing. A doctor noticedthat the newborns taken home by their mothers,and brought back at 6 weeks for a check-up, weremuch more advanced than the ones left at thehospital by Mums putting them up for adoption.They weren’t connecting with anybody. He said weneed mums who can take them home and bringthem back after 28 days.’This was called “pre-adopt” fostering, and Elizabethbecame one of 70 women in the state doing it.‘Several of us are still good friends, and we’re stillfostering.’She requests babies only, and one at a time.And she has embraced the current philosophyof fostering with the aim of re-integration withthe birth parents. ‘I have a little three month oldchappie with me at the moment, who’s been withme since he was five days old. His parents aren’table to care for him, but they are going through25the court system and it would be wonderful if theywere able to work it out, and he could be returnedto them.’‘The aim is for one part of the system to care forthe child while another part of the system workswith the parents to get them right. Unfortunately insome cases it doesn’t work, but it’s very importantfor a child to keep in touch with birth families.’She struggles with some aspects of the system.‘You get a “partial reimbursement” of a little over$100 a week. It’s $18 for a can of formula, andthen there’s nappies. Agencies are supposed tohelp with equipment but they often don’t have a lotof money either.’‘So you’ve always got your hand in your ownpocket – even for petrol, taking them to access.Especially for country and rural people. I live justoutside a city, and this little fellow has been seeinghis mum three times a week in the city. I’m doing60 kilometres a week.’She would not consider other people taking him onthese trips. ‘The less people the baby has to face,the better it is for the baby. If he has someonecome to the door he’s never seen, they pick himup and take him away, he sees his mum, and aworker who watches, then someone else bringshim home...’Elizabeth feels legal decisions are still made‘through the eyes of the parent, not the child. Myconcern is for how the baby manages, not how themother manages. It’s my duty to speak up for thischild, and be the voice for it.’She is, undoubtedly, an expert. ‘Everyone asks ifI mind getting up in the night. And no, I don’t! Idon’t even need lights on. I know it all so well. Youget everything set up before you go to bed. Youeven put the numbers on the microwave so whenyou come out in the night to heat the bottle, youjust turn it on.’‘I always use the same sort of perfume for eachbaby, because their sense of smell is strong. Whenthey leave, I make sure they have their bunnyrugs

and lambswool from the bassinet or cot, because ofthe smell.’‘I had a baby with me for three or four months,who left when she was about 15 months old to gointo permanent care. She’d play with the tins of catfood in the pantry, use them like building blocks.’‘When she went to her placement, I sent somecans of cat food over with her when she went.Every night for a month she’d put the cat food nearthe front door, waiting to come back. The day shedidn’t, the new parents knew she was theirs.’Letting go can still be hard. ‘Many times there’s alump in your throat, and you hope that he or sheis going to be all right. But you have the supportof other carer friends. You usually ring them andsay “Oh well, another one hit the dust”. You goand get your haircut, clean out your cupboards,all the things you haven’t had time for. Then youwait for the phone to ring! I’ve never said no to aplacement. The workers get to know what you’recapable of and what you want.’Elizabeth’s rewards include being invited to 21stsand weddings of children she cared for as toddlers.And particularly since the death of her husbandeight years ago, she values having young childrenin her life. ‘Other people play tennis and golf. I dothis.’Her son and daughter-in-law live on the samesmall rural property, and recently had a five yearold boy, who Elizabeth had cared for, placed intotheir permanent care. ‘They fell in love with him.’They also have a two year old daughter of theirown. Most days, Elizabeth is minding those childrenwhile their parents work, as well as a temporarycare baby.‘There’s a very old saying that it takes a village tobring up a child. I’m just part of that village.’Grandparents as carersAn increasing number of grandparents are now caring fortheir grandchildren. Due to family circumstances involvingdeath, poor health, or substance abuse many grandparents arestruggling with children who have a range of issues. They alsoneed to manage their own aging issues.As well as the 22,500 Australian families reported by theAustralian Bureau of Statistics where grandparents were theguardians of their grandchildren (in 2003), it is estimatedthat many thousands more grandparents are caring for theirgrandchildren under informal arrangements.This publication has endeavoured to include references toassistance that grandparents may obtain in the formal andinformal care of their grandchildren. There are referencesto grandparents on pages 21 and 23 in the context of FamilyTax Benefit, and a mention in Shane’s story on page 38. Butparticularly there is information for grandparents in relation toChild Care Benefit on page 17.Foster care associations in all states and territories welcomeinquiries from grandparents and are able to offer advice andassistance wherever there is need.Grandparents who need more information may phoneeither Centrelink of the Family Assistance OfficeContact details for both are on page 826

Organising foster children’s passportsChildren’s passports are issued to a minorwho is aged under 18 years and has never beenmarried. Each child’s application for a passportstarts anew. Unlike an adult application, thereis no automatic ‘renewal’ for a child’s passport.For children and young people in out-of-homecare, processing a passport application is morecomplex and can take a minimum of five to sixweeks to be finalised. The Australian PassportOffice does not accept a priority fee when youlodge an application for a passport for a childin your care unless the consent of all personswith a parental responsibility has been obtainedprior to lodgment. Usually, paying a priority feeguarantees that an eligible applicant’s passportwill be ready for collection or despatch withintwo working days of a Passport Office receivingeverything it needs.However, once approval is given to issue achild’s passport, you can then pay a priority feeto speed up the application.What forms need to be filled in?There is a range of forms that you may needto fill in for a passport application for a childin your care. The forms are available frompost offices throughout Australia or fromthe Department of Foreign Affairs and TradePassports website at www.passports.gov.au.You should submit your foster child’s passportapplications on the form PC4 (the purple Child’sApplication). Extra forms may also be required,for example:• B7 ― No further court orders (to be filled inwhen a court order already exists)• B8 (two pages) ― Mother’s name only on abirth certificate. (Where there is a father’sname only on the birth certificate, contact thePassport Office for guidance)• B9 ― Child without full parental consent.Children under the care and protection of a stateor territory department also require a letter onofficial departmental letterhead permitting thechild to be issued with a travel document.Consent requirementsThe written consent of every person with a‘parental responsibility’ for a child must besubmitted before a passport is issued. For achild in your care, getting written consent couldinclude consent from:• a state or territory welfare department and allpersons with a parental responsibility for thechild• both birth parents (even if they no longerhave a parental role under the child protectionlaws of the state or territory)• any other persons included in a contact orcourt order for example, foster, relative orkinship carers and the state or territorywelfare department.Consent under Australian Government andstate and territory government lawsBecause of differences between AustralianGovernment and state and territory governmentlegislation, it may be necessary to consultthe parent or parents of the child about theapplication for the child’s passport, despitethe existence of a state or territory careand protection order that removes parentalresponsibility from the parent or parents. (Thepassport policy concerning care and protectionorders is currently under review.)If the required consents cannot be obtained:• a state or territory welfare department mayseek a court order to permit the child to leaveAustralia• when a care and protection order is madeby way of a court order, a state or territorywelfare department may include a clausein the order permitting the child to leaveAustralia at the discretion of, and with the soleconsent of, the relevant Minister• when a care and protection order removes aparent’s parental responsibility, the state orterritory welfare department may register theorder with the Family Court with authority toremove the requirement to obtain parentalconsent.When full consent is not given, or there isno court order that permits a child to leaveAustralia, you can make an application to thePassport Office Approved Senior Officer to havethe requirement for consent waived on the basisthat special circumstances exist.The normal timeframe for an application underspecial circumstances is three to four weeks, ontop of the normal 10-day processing time.The process may also include contacting theperson(s) whose consent has not been providedto seek their consent or reasons for nonconsent.An application to the Approved SeniorOfficer does not guarantee that a passportwill be issued, and it may still be necessaryto obtain a court order permitting the child toleave Australia.For more information about foster children’s passports, phone Australian PassportInformation Service on 13 1232, TTY 13 3677,Translating and Interpreting Services 13 1450 or visit the websitewww.passports.gov.au/Web/index.asp27

Bianca, former child in care‘By that stage I felt I was never going to get what I wanted or needed from her, so I cut mylosses. I was pretty emotionally detached before I was even removed from her.’‘I still don’t know what was going on with her, or why she was like that. But I knew back thenthat what was happening wasn’t right, and that hasn’t changed.’Over the next five years, Bianca had a multitude of foster care placements – none lasting morethan eight months. The main problem, particularly in the first few years, was that her motherkept fighting to get her back, contesting Bianca’s removal through the courts, and in any otherway she could think of.Bianca felt voiceless while all these processes surged around her. ‘Most of the families, I’d haveliked to stay with them. I was a good kid, stayed out of trouble, good at school, pretty quiet,compared to the average foster kid. You don’t usually get a compliant young person who wants tofit in. So I was a rarity, and families wanted me.’She also says she was not listened to for a long time aboutaccess visits, either. ‘My mother was always really involved,but I was always wanting the access visits to stop, because Ididn’t want to have anything to do with her. Eventually I gotthat choice, but I had to really fight for it.’BiancaWhen Bianca was 11, two social workers came toher school and asked her to talk about what wasgoing on at home. Her two older sisters had lefthome, so there was just Bianca and her mother,and someone had reported her mother for abuse.A picture of neglect and cruelty emerged.‘I’d be left by myself for long hours. I didn’tknow what my Mum was doing. I’d have to fendfor myself. Once she made me watch while shebeat my dog to death with a stick. She’d hit me,or hurt things I loved.’Bianca has one messagefor all parties in fostering:‘Listen to the child’.Bianca puts all that down to a combination of inexperiencedyoung social workers who she suspects were easily manipulated by her mother, and the stategovernment policy focus on re-integration with birth parents.She has good memories of most of her many foster parents. ‘For me it was having people I couldcount on. Even though sometimes they made mistakes and didn’t always give me what I needed.’This, she says, was due simply to misunderstandings. ‘I couldn’t always communicate what I wasthinking. But at the end of the day they really loved me and cared about me. Some I stayed incontact with after I left. I’d give them a call, send them a Christmas card, tell them how I wasgoing.’The carers helped her in ways that she was not aware of at the time. ‘I felt completely unlovablefor a long time. I couldn’t believe someone could genuinely care for me. Some of the carershelped me with that, and I don’t feel that way now.’Bianca also has some tips for carers. ‘Kids can tell when you’re not being straight with them. Ifyou’re a foster carer but your heart’s not in it, kids can tell. And it’s important to treat all kidsin the house the same. Obviously it’s different with your own kids, but do your best to treateveryone fairly. If one’s not allowed to watch TV, the other shouldn’t either, otherwise you’re leftwith that feeling “It’s because I’m a foster kid.”’Eventually she was assigned to a ‘fantastic social worker’ from another region, who she saysproperly understood her needs. When a placement broke down when she was 16, she was giventhe opportunity to live in a flat, with some support.She did that, and managed to get through school. She is now at university on a scholarship,studying psychology and politics, although she has deferred to do some travel.Bianca is not sure what career she will pursue, only that she wants to be self-sufficient. ‘I want tobe able to look after my own kids – knowing there’s food on the table, shoes on their feet. I didn’thave those things when I was a kid.’28

Accessing Legal AidPeople seeking legal aid apply through the legal aid commissions in their state or territory. Thecommissions provide a range of services for criminal, family and civil law matters, including providinginformation and advice, primary dispute resolution, and granting aid for legal representation. Legalaid can be sought for various matters arising under Australian Government (Commonwealth) andstate or territory government laws. Providing legal aid for matters arising under Commonwealth lawis funded by the Australian Government under agreements with the legal aid commissions and stateand territory governments. Each state and territory government funds legal aid services for mattersarising under its own laws.Access to some legal aid services is subject to means (income and assets) and merits tests, and not allapplicants are eligible for a grant of aid. Successful applicants may be required to pay a contribution(based on an applicant’s financial situation and the area of law) to the cost of resolving their matter.Legal services funded by legal aid are provided using both lawyers employed by the legal aidcommissions and private legal practitioners.For more information about legal aid, contact the legal aid commission in your state or territory.Australian Capital Territory Phone 1300 654 314www.legalaid.canberra.net.auNew South Wales Phone 1300 888 529(LawAccess NSW) www.legalaid.nsw.gov.auNorthern Territory Phone 1800 019 343www.ntlac.nt.gov.auQueensland Phone 1300 651 188www.legalaid.qld.gov.auSouth Australia Phone 1800 188 126www.lsc.sa.gov.auTasmania Phone 1300 366 611www.legalaid.tas.gov.auVictoria Phone 1800 677 402 or 03 9269 0234www.legalaid.vic.gov.auWestern Australia Phone 1300 650 579www.legalaid.wa.gov.auNot eligible for Legal Aid for a child care andprotection matter?If you are not eligible to receive Legal Aid for a child care and protection matter, you may be able toaccess a pro bono assistance scheme operated by your state or territory law society, the Courts, BarAssociation or a community legal centre.Pro bono assistance is work undertaken by a legal practitioner at significantly reduced or no cost, andmay include providing legal advice, assistance with preparing legal documents, mediation of disputes,checking agreements and representation in court.Pro bono schemes usually operate under guidelines, which set out who may be eligible to receiveassistance and what types of matters may be considered. If you are applying for legal aid, the schemesusually require that:• you have a genuine legal problem• you are unable to obtain Legal Aid (Legal Aid can provide a letter to say this)• you clearly do not have the ability to pay for legal services (often determined by a means test)• the matter falls within the areas of law assisted by the pro bono scheme (child care and protectionmatters are often covered), and• the matter has a reasonable prospect of success.Applications usually take a minimum of two weeks to be determined, so you should lodge your applicationas early as possible.If your application is eligible for pro bono assistance, every effort will be made to try to match yourmatter with an appropriate legal representative. However, there is no guarantee that assistance canalways be given.Even if your application is unsuccessful, many law societies and community legal centres are still able toprovide you with advice about obtaining a free initial consultation from an appropriate legal source.For more information or assistance, phone your state or territory law society orphone your foster care association.29

amara,Tamaramy foster Mum wasamazing‘My name is Tamara and I was nearly twelve when Iwas fostered into the home and family of Nancy. Iwas very fearful and unsure whether I had done theright thing. I had just endured a court case to chargemy biological mother with neglect and was made a“ward of the state” – not a comforting label.’‘I went into this family being four years older thantheir eldest child (a daughter). I did expect for thereto be issues relating to being the “eldest” now in thefamily but, it was the opposite. I was accepted andsoon respected as the big sister in the house. My foster sisterand I developed a strong bond from the beginning and to this dayare very close. I also have a great relationship with all the othersiblings of this family.’‘My time growing up in this family has some great memoriesfor me, coming from an abused/neglectedchildhood. I feel very lucky to be able to saymy life in a “normal” family was great. I hadthe opportunity to go on some great familyholidays, go on school camps and wear niceclothes. Most of all I had a great sense ofbelonging.’‘Nancy is the reason for all of this. She isthe one who keeps the wheel turning in thefamily. Nothing is ever too much for her. Shehas taken on the role of mother to so manychildren from all sorts of situations and treatedthem all as her own. She has the quality ofmaking everyone feel special.’‘In the first few years with this family there were lots of shortterm foster children and Nancy would always cry when they lefteven if they were only with us for a couple of weeks. She gotattached to each and every one of them.’‘Nancy and I have celebrated our 30th year together this yearand, being her first foster child, I have been there to welcome themany more who have been coming into the family ever since.’‘It is difficult to put into words the love and support this wonderfulwoman has shown to so many needy children over the years – sheis amazing.’I feel very lucky to be able to saymy life in a “normal” family wasgreat. I had the opportunity togo on some great family holidays,go on school camps and wear niceclothes. Most of all I had a greatsense of belonging.30

ClaireClaire, former child in careIt took almost her whole childhood before Claire finally got toexperience the best of what family life had to offer.Born in Scotland, she was in and out of care until she was adoptedat the age of six. But her adoptive mother abused her physically andemotionally – ‘horrible things were said on a daily basis’– and heradoptive father began sexually molesting her when she was nine.The family emigrated to Australia when Claire was eleven, and settledon a small property. ‘They put me in a shed out the back. I was notallowed in the house, and had to do all the jobs, so my school workfell behind.’Finally, at 15, underfed and covered in bruises and other injuries, shetold her best friend what was happening. Her friend’s family took herin for a while. ‘They were wonderful, and were going to adopt me, butthen they realised I was very messed up. They just didn’t have thetools to help me through it.’But her next family did. Foster carers for seven years at that stage,they committed themselves to Claire, and made it clear theywere in for the long haul.But she needed a lot of convincing. ‘There were continuouscompliments – “You’re doing well”, “We love you”. But I didn’tbelieve them.’‘Even with who I call Dad now, I couldn’t be alone with him,not in the car or anywhere. He had to stay out of the way inhis own home. It was a lot to put up with.’The darkness of her adoptive family had not ended. Whenshe was 18, her adoptive father came to her workplace andraped her. She became pregnant, and had a termination.Her outraged foster parents were more supportive than ever, but shewas defiant. ‘I just did what I pleased, and didn’t care about anybody.’‘I’d be grounded. They had rules, and there was no leniency. Butthere was no name-calling, and they were always consistent. And theygave me time. Every Friday night they would sit up with me and Iwould argue, until 3am, about wanting to go out. Their kids would bewanting to go to sleep and yelling out “Would you justshut up.”’‘I remember for my end of Year 11 dance, plottingan after-party with my friends. We’d all worked outdifferent things to tell our parents about where we’dbe. It was my foster parents who blew all that. I reallyresented it at the time, but they kept on showing melove and affection, and were also doing things likehelping me find my birth brother in Scotland.’‘I was a ward of the state, so they had thatresponsibility, and they just weren’t prepared to let mebe anywhere where there wasn’t someone to look afterme. And they were great with my friends - 15 kids fora sleep-over, that sort of thing. So they weren’t drillsergeants.’Claire, now 30, remembers there was a moment whereshe thought, ‘hang on, I’ve got to do something with my...but then theyrealised I was verymessed up. Theyjust didn’t have thetools to help methrough it.31

life, to pay them back.’They are now ‘Mum and Dad’, and ‘Nan and Pop’ to Claire’s three children.Claire enjoys a good relationship with her foster siblings - ‘We can all laughabout it now’ – and extended family birthday and Christmas celebrations.‘My Mum says “I remember the first time you initiated affection, and thefirst time you came out with a positive comment about yourself.”’‘They’re very proud of me. They tell methat all the time. I remember when I waspregnant with my first child, sitting around ‘They’re very proud of me. Theyat their place crying, scared that I’d abusetell me that all the time’.my child. Because you hear about the cycleof abuse. They said “You’ll be wonderful.You’ll take the exact opposite approach.” And they were right.’‘I have a job, I have children who are excelling at school, I’m in a longterm relationship, I can hold jobs and friendships. I wouldn’t have beenable to do these things without them.’Claire is in awe of this couple and the fostering they continue to do.Assistance for Isolated Children SchemeIf you care for primary, secondary or tertiary students (certain rules apply) who are unable to attendan ‘appropriate’ government school on a daily basis, primarily because of geographic isolation, theAssistance for Isolated Children Scheme may help your family.An appropriate government school is one that offers your child’s or young person’s level of study. Itcan also be the school that provides access to the facilities, programmes and/or environment requiredif your child has special health-related or educational needs. ‘Geographic isolation’ is based on thestudent’s principal family home.The Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme’s allowances include:• Boarding Allowance• Additional Boarding Allowance• Distance Education Allowance• Second Home Allowance• Pensioner Education Supplement for primary students on certain pensions.Apart from the Additional Boarding Allowance, all allowances under the Assistance for IsolatedChildren Scheme are free of income and assets tests.Note: Additional Boarding Allowance is affected if you are receiving a foster care allowance from astate or territory government.If you think that you may be eligible for an Assistance for Isolated Children allowance,more information can be obtained by phoning Centrelink on 13 2318TTY 1800 810 586Multilingual Services 12 1202 or visit the website atwww.centrelink.gov.auLarge Family SupplementIf you receive Family Tax Benefit for three or more children, you will automatically receive an extraamount for each child after the second child. This Large Family Supplement is on top of your FamilyTax Benefit Part A. For the 2006-07 financial year, it is an additional amount of $255.50 per year for afamily’s third and each subsequent child.For more information phone the Family Assistance Office on 13 6150TTY 1800 810 586, Multilingual services 12 1202 or visit the website atwww.familyassist.gov.au32

Foster children and Medicare cardsTo get a Medicare card for a child placed in your care, the relevant government agency needs tosubmit a Medicare enrolment application form, a copy of the court order, and a letter from the agencysetting out the request for the card.A foster child may not be transferred off a parent’s Medicare card without the authority of that parent.When a child is in the care of a government agency (court order), the child may be copied to aMedicare card in the name of that agency. The agency may then make the Medicare card available toyou, as the foster, relative or kinship carer. A child will not be included on your Medicare card unlessyou are providing long term care.When an agency and the family share responsibility, a parent may authorise for the child to be copiedto a Medicare card under the name of the agency.How carers can use the Medicare card number• In a care situation it may be useful if the agency either provides the Medicare card number or theMedicare card to the carer.• You can copy a child on to more than one Medicare card, by filling out a Medicare ‘Copy/transferapplication form’.• You do not need to have the child’s Medicare card or number to make a claim (however, it is easierand more convenient if you do).• You only need to have paid the child’s medical bill to make a claim from Medicare.• Where the doctor bulk bills and the Medicare card number is not known, the doctor may contactMedicare Australia on 13 2150 and ascertain the child’s Medicare card numberMedicare Australia delivers a range of other services including:• Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme — 1800 020 613• the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register — 1800 653 809.To obtain a ‘Copy/transfer application form’, and to findout more information about Medicare card arrangementsfor children in out-of-home care phone your local MedicareOffice, on phone 13 2011, TTY 1800 552 152,Translating and Interpreting Services 13 1450 or visit thewebsite atwww.medicareaustralia.gov.auA tribute to my foster carer (K)I like the songs that we sing, andwheelchair dancing. K--- makes mybed nice. We have chocolate and K---plays computer with me. K--- gives mebig hugs. We read books, play musicloud and dance.C--- (9 yrs)33

Concession cards coverage for children andyoung people in foster careThere are a number of ways you can havechildren or young people in your care coveredby a concession card. If you are eligible for aconcession card yourself, then your foster childmay appear as a dependant on your card. Itmay therefore not be necessary to separatelyclaim a foster child Health Care Card.For example:• if you are receiving an income supportpayment from Centrelink or Veterans’ Affairs,you may automatically get a concession cardthat lists your dependants• if you do not receive an income supportpayment, but you are entitled to receive themaximum rate of Family Tax Benefit Part A,you may automatically receive a FamilyTax Benefit Health Care Card that lists yourdependants• if you do not qualify under the aboveprovisions, you may claim a low incomeHealth Care Card, which covers both you asthe card holder and your dependants. (Note:to claim a low income Health Care Card,you must have income under certain limits― phone the Family Assistance Office.)If you cannot obtain concession card coverageunder the above provisions, you may wishto claim the foster child Health Care Card onbehalf of a child or young person in your care.Eligibility for the foster child Health CareCardFrom 1 July 2001, all children in out-of-homecare were given access to a Health Care Card.The card can be claimed and issued throughCentrelink or the Family Assistance Office, andapplies to children and young people in bothformal and informal home-based foster carewho are residing with an Australian resident.Formal foster care refers to placements ofchildren and young people through state orchild protection agencies. Informal foster careis broadly defined to include relatives otherthan natural parents, and significant others inthe child or young person’s extended networks.(Children and young people in residential careare not eligible for a Health Care Card under thefoster child provisions).Applying for a foster child Health Care CardApplying for a Health Care Card for a child oryoung person in formal foster careIf you apply for a Health Care Card for a fosterchild or young person in formal care yourapplication must include documents that showdetails of the care arrangements. This mayinclude one or more of the following:• a letter from your agency outlining the child’sname, child’s date of birth, estimated lengthof placement, your name(s) and address, andif appropriate, details of the child’s parents• a copy of the child’s birth certificate• a copy of the current court order, and/or• proof of your identify ― for example, letterof appointment, legal instrument, or identitycard.Applying for a Health Care Card for a child oryoung person in informal foster careIf you apply for a Health Care Card for a fosterchild or young person living in home-based carewithout official involvement, your applicationmust include documents from professionalsinvolved with the family. The documents needto state that the child or young person in yourcare is in a private or informal foster carearrangement. This can include a letter froma social worker, general practitioner, schoolprincipal, or similar person familiar with thecase, which states:• child’s name• child’s date of birth• details of the child’s parent(s)• estimated length of placement, and• your name and address.The documents may also include:• copy of the child’s birth certificate• copy of the current court order, or• proof of your identify ― for example,letter of appointment, legal instrument, oridentification card.Important: The foster child Health Care Cardis issued in the child’s name and is valid for sixmonths.If the child or young person in your caremoves to a new placement, you should notifyCentrelink or the Family Assistance Office.Types of concessionsHealth Care Card holders may receive:• medicines listed under the PharmaceuticalBenefits Scheme at the concessional rate; andgenerally free Pharmaceutical Benefits Schemeprescriptions through the PharmaceuticalBenefits Scheme ‘safety net’, after receiving54 Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme scripts inthe 2006 calendar year (for more information,phone the Pharmaceutical Benefits SchemeInformation Line on 1800 020 613)• bulk-billed general practitioner (GP)appointments, at the discretion of the doctor(the Australian Government provides financialincentives for GPs to bulk-bill concession cardholders)• a reduction in the cost of out-of-hospitalmedical expenses above a concessional34

threshold of $500 in a calendar year (currentat 1 July 2006)• additional health, household, transport,education and recreation concessions fromstate or territory and local governments.Some private providers ― like energycompanies and insurance agents ― may alsooffer concessions.For more information about ConcessionCards, phone Centrelink on 13 2300 orthe Family Assistance Office on 13 6150TTY 1800 810 586Multilingual services 12 1202 or visit thewebsite atwww.familyassist.gov.auParenting PaymentParenting Payment is an income supportpayment designed specifically for people,either single or partnered, who have principalcare of a child. Parenting Payment can bepaid in addition to Family Tax Benefit. Ingeneral terms, to qualify for ParentingPayment, you must:• have principal care of a qualifying child• have income and assets below certain limits,and• meet the residence requirements.Parenting Payment (Partnered) is only paid toone member of a couple and only one personcan receive Parenting Payment in respect ofa child (for example, as a foster, relative orkinship carer you cannot receive ParentingPayment for the same child at the same timeParenting Payment is paid to a natural oradoptive parent).Newstart AllowanceNewstart Allowance is an income supportpayment for people aged over 21 years andbelow Age Pension age, who are unemployed.To qualify for Newstart Allowance you must belooking for work and participate in activitiesthat will help you move on to paid work.Under the Australian Government’s Welfareto Work reforms, principal carers of at leastone dependent child over a prescribed ageare no longer eligible for Parenting Paymentand will need to apply for another payment,typically Newstart Allowance. Principal carerson Newstart Allowance may be required tolook for, or undertake, suitable paid parttimework of at least 15 hours a week unlessexempt. As a foster, relative or kinship carer,you will be exempt from this obligation if youhave documentary evidence from your stateor territory authority that you are ‘registeredand active’.For more information about ParentingPayment or Newstart Allowance, phoneCentrelink on 13 1021, 8 am to 8 pmMonday-FridayTTY 1800 810 586Multilingual services 12 1202, or visit thewebsite at www.centrelink.gov.auFor more information on income supportarrangements under Welfare toWork, refer to Page 10 ‘Welfare to Work- Information for carers onincome support.’35

Aboriginal and Torres StraitIslander children in careSecretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child CareAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are significantlyover-represented in child protection and out-of-home carestatistics in Australia. At 30 June 2005, there were 5,678Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-homecare, an increase of 619 since 30 June 2004. The rate ofAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-homecare in Australia at 30 June 2005 was 26.4 per 1,000 childrenaged 0 to 17 years, and on a state-by-state basis this rangedfrom 8.9 per 1,000 children in the Northern Territory to 40.7 per1,000 children in Victoria.In all states and territories, there are higher rates of Aboriginaland Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care thanother children. The national rate of Indigenous children inout-of-home care was over six times the rate for other children.On a state-by-state basis, the rate of Aboriginal and TorresStrait Islander children in out-of-home care ranges betweennearly nine and 13 times the rate for other children.As well as being more likely to be placed into out-of-homecare, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are likely toremain in care longer. In Victoria, for example, an Aboriginalchild or young person stays four times longer in out-of-homecare than a non-Aboriginal child. The average length of stay is239 days compared with 62 days.These large numbers of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanderchildren in out-of-home care are a consequence of a 200-year history of landdispossession and destroyed livelihoods, families, communities, language and culture.In turn, these have caused economic, psychological and spiritual/cultural devastation.Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children today enter the care system because theirfamilies are still suffering from grief and loss, stress, poor physical and mental health,substance abuse, and violence.Understanding the Aboriginal familyTraditional Aboriginal family practices provide very strict laws for people to live by. Thekeeping of these laws provides the family group with a strong sense of cultural identityand belonging.There are a number of skin groups within language groups and all Aboriginal peopleare born with a skin name. Skin groups govern social behaviours and interaction,traditionally determining those they can trade with, marry, and so on.Traditionally a clan consists of two or more family groups that share an area of landover which they have ownership. Clan boundaries are passed from one generation tothe next, generally through the father.Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s relationship with the land is different tothat of other Australians. Aboriginal people have a deep spiritual connection with theland. ‘The best way to allow spirituality to emerge in Aboriginal children is to allow themto experience it — to feel connection with people and places — and feel proud.’Aboriginal Child Placement PrincipleThe Aboriginal Child Placement Principle outlines a preference for the placement ofAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children with other Aboriginal and Torres StraitIslander people when they are placed outside their family (Lock 1997:50).The principle has the following order of preference for the placement of Aboriginal andTorres Strait Islander children:• with the child’s extended family• within the child’s Indigenous community• with other Indigenous people.The Australian Government and all the states and territories have adopted theAboriginal Child Placement Principle either in legislation or policy. The impact of theprinciple is reflected in the relatively high proportions of Aboriginal and Torres StraitIslander children who are placed either with Indigenous care givers or with relativesthroughout Australia.36

The importance of maintaining links with personal cultureAs a foster carer, you are not expected to know the answers to all questions aboutculture but you need to facilitate the child’s learning about her or his own individualAboriginal or Torres Strait Islander culture. You need to understand that the child’sAboriginal family and community are the teachers of culture and ensure that the child inyour care has as close a relationship with her or his family and community as possible,so that questions about culture can be directed back to the family or to an Aboriginal orIslander community member or an Aboriginal or Islander case worker. Carers can learnabout the child’s culture along with the child.Cultural plans and ‘ genealogical tracking’It is important that each Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child in out-of-homecare has a cultural plan. In some states and territories these are completed by childprotection departments as part of case planning, with input from Aboriginal caseworkers and the Aboriginal community. Your role as a carer in cultural planning is tosupport and promote the plans and to help implement them. Cultural plans include a‘genogram’ or family tree, going back three generations from both sides of the family.Other useful resourcesThere are also a number of publications available that can provide you with assistanceas a foster carer of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. One excellent booklet,recently published in Victoria by the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency, is Caring forAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children in Out-of-home Care. The Secretariat ofNational Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC) is also producing versions of thisbooklet for other states and territories to assist non-Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islandercarers providing care for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children.The booklets provide information about how you can best meet the cultural needs ofAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in care. The bookletshelp you to achieve a better understanding of the needs of Aboriginal and Torres StraitIslander children and why they need to grow up with a strong sense and knowledgeof their Aboriginal cultural identity. The booklets will be available from Aboriginal andIslander Child Care Agencies in each state and territory.Contacts for more informationAboriginal and Islander Child Care Agencies (AICCAs) provide a range of child and familywelfare services and are the best places to contact for advice or information to assist withcaring in a culturally sensitive and respectful way.Contact details are available on the SNAICC National Services Directory which also includesdetails of other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family and children’s services, healthand legal services, government departments, peak bodies and resources agencies fromacross the country.The Directory is located on the SNAICC website www.snaicc.asn.au orby phoning 03 9489 809937

ShaneAboriginal carerShane and Anne’s first, and only, fostering experience nearlyfailed before it began. Their story reads like an instructionmanual of how not to begin foster care.Still coming to terms with their own inability to have children,they decided they would try fostering. Anne is not Aboriginal,but both she and Shane felt that fostering Aboriginal childrencould help break the cycles of both discrimination anddispossession they might otherwise face.Shane works for a government department on Aboriginal issues,and is the chairperson of an Aboriginal organisation. Fosteringwas another way to contribute to his community, and share hisskills. ‘I have the talents of a Western world understanding, andI can use them to the benefit of my people.’Shane admits now, however, that it was a shock when twochildren first came into their care four years ago. The couple were approved ascarers after psychological and environmental assessments, but ‘we were still lookingat trying to have our own children, and were in a state of sadness’.A call came from their state department of community services. ‘They gave us somebrief information. “It’s a boy and a girl. Do you want to take them?” It was like ablind date.’ Shane and Anne had put themselves down for long term care, but thiswas a short term emergency. They agreed to do it.‘So they drop them off – and somehow now there’s two girls, instead of a boy anda girl - and give us a little piece of paper which just says their names, ages, andmaybe a few other details. The kids had no personal items.’‘There’s a 4 year old and a 3 month old baby. They say “Have you got baby gear?”We didn’t, and “By the way, they need to be taken to the doctor’s to be checkedup.”’ There was no Medicare card, so a private doctor was not an option.After two weeks, Shane and Anne rang the department and said they could not doit, and returned the children. ‘We just felt we weren’t getting the support necessary.We’d have expected a list of phone numbers – Parent Helplines, that sort of thing,but we didn’t even get that.’‘But I think the main thing was it just wasn’t the right timing. My wife was comingto the realisation, through these foster kids, and another IVF cycle that didn’t work,that we really weren’t having our own kids. It was a very emotionally draining time.’After the children left, there was another twist. Shane and Anne changed theirminds, and wanted the children back. ‘That caused a lot of problems, and there wasa thorough investigation. It took two weeks, but we got the kids back and they’rewith us now.’Over the next two years the children settled in, and were joined by a third sibling,a newborn. After extensive reviews, the placements were changed to long term andthe children will now remain with Shane and Anne until they turn 18.‘The kids are comfortable and fully adjusted. They’re all calling us Mum and Dadnow. We just let them decide when they were ready for that. And they’re very wellaccepted in our whole family; they’ve been taken on as nieces and grandchildren.’Shane says the system has improved in his state in the few years he has beenfostering. ‘Foster parents can now access services, and goods that you might need.’The children go to an Aboriginal childcare centre, get Aboriginal support at school,attend events organised by an Aboriginal child and family support agency, and aretaken by Shane and Anne to the former mission where Shane’s parents come from.They also have department-facilitated contact with their birth parents, who nowhave ten children, all in care.Shane believes ‘It’s a basic thing we all should do – care for our children, and carefor our community, as a parent, grandparent or foster parent.’38

ABSTUDYABSTUDY is available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander secondary students who are studying anapproved secondary course.If your child in care is a primary school student she or he may also be eligible for ABSTUDY if they areaged 14 years or older on 1 January in the year of study.ABSTUDY is also available to eligible full-time New Apprentices.ABSTUDY may also be available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students who go on to furtherstudy after leaving school.If you have a young person in care, she or he may be eligible for the ABSTUDY Living Allowance,either at the ‘standard’ or ‘away’ rate, if they have reached the minimum school leaving age in yourstate or territory.For more information, phone Centrelink on 13 1021TTY 1800 810 586Multilingual Services 12 1202 or visit the website atwww.centrelink.gov.auAboriginal and Torres Strait Islanderorganisations with specialist interest in caringfor childrenSecretariat of NationalAboriginal and Islander ChildCare (SNAICC)Aboriginal and Torres StraitIslander Services Unit(Australian Capital Territory)Aboriginal Child, Family &Community Care(New South Wales)SA Aboriginal Family SupportServices(South Australia)Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre(TAC)(Tasmania)Victorian Aboriginal Child CareAgency - VACCA(Victoria)Yorganop Childcare AboriginalCorporation(Western Australia)Suite 8, First Floor252-260 St Georges RdNorth Fitzroy VIC 3068Phone 03 9489 8099Email snaicc@vicnet.net.auWebsite www.snaicc.asn.auOffice for Children, Youth and Family SupportLevel 7, 11 Moore StreetCanberra ACT 2601Phone 02 6205 4798 or 1300 556 729 (After hours)Fax 02 6207 6364Email ocyfs@act.gov.auWebsite www.dhcs.act.gov.au/ocyfsState Secretariat, AbSec - NSWLevel 7, 104 Bathurst StreetSydney NSW 2001Phone 02 9264 0088 Fax 02 9264 0090Email admin@absec.org.auWebsite www@absec.org.au134 Waymouth StreetAdelaide SA 5000Phone 08 8212 1112 Fax 08 8212 1123Email afss@afss.com.au7a Emily RoadWest Moonah TAS 7009Phone 03 6272 7099 Fax 03 6273 0869Email childrenscentre@tacinc.com.au139 Nicholson StreetEast Brunswick VIC 3057Phone 03 8388 1855 Fax 03 8388 1898Email vacca@vacca.org1320 Hay StWest Perth WA 6005Phone 08 9321 9090 Fax 08 9321 9019Email admin@yorganop.org.auWebsite www.yorganop.org.au39

Foster care associationsFoster care associations exist in everystate and territory in Australia. Theyare membership based, voluntaryorganisations supporting andrepresenting the voices of fostercarers, their families and the childrenthey care for.The Australian Foster Care AssociationInc. works in partnership with the stateand territory foster care associationsand other community organisationsin the child and family welfare sectorto provide the support necessary forcarers and children and young peopleunable to live at home, to achievebetter outcomes.Since foster care associations are madeup foster carers, their members areready and willing to share experienceson a wide range of issues. In additionto the many government sourcesof support and information listed inthis publication, foster, relative andkinship carers are encouraged to seekinformation and support from their ownstate or territory foster care associationeven if they choose not to becomemembers of that association.To find out more about foster care orto become a foster carer, contact thefoster care association in your state orterritory.Foster care association contact detailsACT PO Box 4260Kingston ACT 2604Phone 02 6288 5994 or 02 6241 1665 (both24 hours)Fax 02 6253 8887Email fcaact@bigpond.comWebsite www.fcaact.org.auNSWNTQLD131 Hawkesbury RoadWestmead NSW 2145Phone 02 9633 5816 or 02 9633 3824 (afterhours)Fax 02 9633 4914Email fcansw@fcansw.org.auWebsite www.fcansw.org.au5B/18 Bauhinia StreetNightcliff NT 0810Phone 08 8948 3204 (Monday, Wednesday9am – 5pm, Friday 9am – 1pm)Family and Children’s Services After Hours CrisisService 1800 700 250 (after hours)Foster Care NT Inc.Phone 0408 750 945 (after hours)Email ntfca@bigpond.net.au5-921 Kingsford Smith DriveEagle Farm QLD 4009Phone 07 3268 5955 or07 3807 8455 (after hours)Fax 07 3268 5970Email fcq@fcq.com.auWebsite www.fcq.com.auSA P.O.Box 288Kilburn SA 5084Phone 1800 732 272 (24 hour)Fax 08 8186 4794Email enquiries@cfc-sa.org.auWebsite www.cfc-sa.org.auTasVicWARoom 3, Ground Floor, McDougall BuildingEllerslie Road, Battery Point Hobart 7001Phone 0437 006 876 (including after hoursassistance and support)Email ksa2@bigpond.comWebsite www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/agency/partnerships/fostercarers.php48 High StreetNorthcote VIC 3070Phone 03 9489 9770 (business hours)Fax 03 9489 9119Email admin@fcav.orgWebsite www.fcav.org89 Hensman RoadSubiaco WA 6008Phone 08 9388 1911 or 08 9246 4285 (afterhours)Country Callers 1800 641 911Fax 08 9388 2405Email admin@fcawa.com.auWebsite www.fcawa.com.auSpecialised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services are available in several states orterritories - see list on page 3940

MatthewMatthew, young person in care‘I was the most annoying kid, impossible to teach.’ That’s howMatthew, now old and wise at 17, sums up his early years ofconstant strife at school.He remembers ‘swearing at teachers, chucking stuff at teachers,getting into fights.’Matthew had lived with his birth mother until going into fostercare at the age of eight, and has lived with the same foster parentssince then, Shelley and Blake.‘I was out on the streets, and Mum couldn’t control me. I wasalways in trouble with the school and the police. I didn’t have aDad to discipline me, and Mum couldn’t do it. I didn’t have anyrules. It wasn’t really Mum’s fault. She couldn’t control me. I can’treally explain it. I couldn’t take her seriously somehow. At ten Iwas nearly taller than her.’Mathew’s foster mother, Shelley, explains that Mathew’s motherhas serious health problems. He remains staunchly loyal to hismother, and sees her, and his seven year old sister, every twoweeks. ‘I get on very well with them’, he emphasises. ‘My Mumstill cares about me a lot.’He sometimes has his two mothers both in the living room at thesame time, and calls them ‘Big Mum’ (Shelley) and ‘Little Mum’.‘We have a laugh about that,’ Shelley says.Matthew’s gratitude to Shelley and Blake is heartfelt. ‘They werethere for me. They were just really nice, and not angry with me.They were determined to change me.’‘At the start I didn’t want to be with them. All kids in foster care,they’d feel the same way. They’d want to go back home and shit.’‘I’m surprised they didn’t kick me out of the house. They were verypersistent. They kept on trying.’‘Shelley was pretty much coming in to the school every day,fighting the principals, not taking “no” for an answer. If theteachers were getting sick of me and wanting me to be expelled,Shelley would always be on my side.’‘I didn’t know why she would still like me. I was being a little shit.’‘I think I naturally didn’t like adults. I’d spent more time with kids,who were much older than me – dodgy kids, who I shouldn’t havebeen hanging out with.’‘But then Shelley and Blake came along, and demonstratedthe good part of adults. They were willing to listen. They caredif I was in a really bad mood. They didn’t get angry with mefor being angry. They were calm and patient. They were veryunderstanding.’‘At one school, the teachers hated me straight away, and Shelleyand Blake saw it.’After a couple of schools, and a couple of years with Shelleyand Blake, he changed to a new school in Year 4, and began tochange. ‘It was a heaven school. The teachers were all so nice andunderstanding. They had a lot more patience.’Matthew is now in Year 12, and hopes to go to university nextyear. ‘If I’d grown up to be the kind of boy I was going to be, Iwould not be in school. I’d be in drugs, or an alcoholic, that kind ofstuff.’He likes ‘anything to do with sport’, and is interested in being aphysical education teacher. He agrees that he would know whatmakes a good teacher.41

Transition to Independent Living AllowanceThe Transition to Independent Living Allowance(TILA), in conjunction with other supportmeasures, is one-off support up to the valueof $1,000, designed to assist young peoplewho are leaving or have left care, in order tomeet some of the costs involved in moving toindependent living.Transition to Independent Living Allowance canbe applied in a number of ways to best meet theneeds of a young person leaving care, includingmaking a contribution to the costs involved instarting employment, education or establishinga home. However, Transition to IndependentLiving Allowance can not be used to replaceexisting assistance schemes or services.Please note that Transition to IndependentLiving Allowance is not a cash payment.Who is eligible?To qualify for Transition to Independent LivingAllowance, the young person leaving your careneeds to be:• a permanent Australian resident, and• aged between 15 and 25 years, and• approaching or experiencing their transition toindependent living, and• at risk of an unsuccessful transition toindependent living.They must also:• have been in, or currently be in formal and/orinformal care, and• have not received Transition to IndependentLiving Allowance before.Important: A young person can only accessthe Transition to Independent Living Allowanceonce.What is formal care?To be considered to have been in, or to becurrently in, formal care a young person seekingthis allowance must:• be the subject of a care and protection orderthat places them in the care and custody ofsomeone who isn’t their parent, or• have been the subject of a care and protectionorder that placed them in the care andcustody of someone who wasn’t their parent,and their order has ceased or expired becauseof their age.What is informal care?To be considered to have been in, or to becurrently in, informal care they must:• have ‘Independent Status’ for Centrelinkpayments because they cannot live with theirparents; and• currently be in, or have previously been in,informal out-of-home care; and/or• currently be in, or have previously been in,Indigenous kinship care.How to apply for the Transition toIndependent Living Allowance• The young person and the communityorganisation need to fill in a referralassessment form, which outlines whattransition support the young person needs.The form is available from the FaCSIA websiteor from any of the administering organisations(see list on next page).• The completed form is sent to anadministering organisation which thenprocesses the form.• The administering organisation provides theTransition to Independent Living Allowancefunds to the young person’s communityorganisation or directly to the supplier of thegoods and/or services.To obtain a Transition to Independent Living Allowancereferral assessment form:• contact one of the administering organisations listed onthe next page, or• contact the Australian Government Department ofFamilies, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs(FaCSIA):— write to FaCSIA at PO Box 7788, Canberra MailCentre, ACT 2610— phone 1300 653 227, or— visit the website www.facsia.gov.au and follow thelinks to ‘Youth’ and ‘Transition to Independent LivingAllowance’.More information may also be available from your stateor territory community services or welfare department,from the foster care association or from the communityorganisation that is already helping the young person tomake plans to leave care.42

Transition to Independent Living Allowanceadministering organisationsPlease address your enquiries to the Transition to Independent Living AllowanceContact Officer in any of the following administering organisationsAustralian Capital Territory (ACT)• The Richmond Fellowship of the ACT Inc.Phone 02 6248 6118Fax 02 6247 7691Email wilf@rfact.org.auNew South Wales (NSW)• Biripi Aboriginal Corporation Medical Centre(Marungbai)Phone 02 6551 3973Fax 02 6551 2060Email marungbai@tsn.ccCentacare (Newcastle)Phone 02 4903 3000Fax 02 4961 2224Email jo.bronwyn@mn.catholic.org.au• Centacare (Sydney)Manager: Ms Bronwyn ParkerPhone 02 9793 7522Fax 02 9790 8421Email alive@centacare.org• Clarence Valley Community Programs Inc.Phone 02 6642 7257Fax 02 6643 2203Email nsecomb@communityprograms.org.au• Relationships Australia (NSW) - AftercareResource CentrePhone 02 9890 3899Fax 02 9890 1170Email arc@ransw.org.au• UnitingCare BurnsidePhone 02 4455 7016Fax 02 4455 6907Email schapman@burnside.org.au• UnitingCare Burnside (Western NSW)Phone 02 6884 5254Fax 02 6885 1399Email lizprice@burnside.org.auNorthern Territory (NT)• Centacare (NT)Phone 08 8944 2000Fax 08 8944 2099Email fmillar@centacare-nt.org.auQueensland (QLD)• Salvation Army QLDPhone 07 3854 1245Fax 07 3854 1552Email yosbrisbane@aue.salvationarmy.org(Attn: TILA Contact Officer)South Australia (SA)• Baptist Community ServicesPhone 08 8277 8088Fax 08 8277 9318Email itownsend@sabaptist.asn.au• Lutheran Community CarePhone 08 8723 2869Fax 08 8723 2854Email bkanahs@lccsa.org.au• Service to Youth CouncilPhone 08 8413 8150Fax 08 8212 2180Email ycolgan@syc.net.auTasmania (TAS)• Anglicare (Tasmania)Phone 03 6234 3510Fax 03 6234 8457Email g.hitchens@anglicare-tas.org.au• Glenhaven Family Care Inc.Phone 03 6421 7793Fax 03 6421 7794Email gfcmanager@southcom.com.auVictoria (VIC)• Salvation Army (West Care)Enquiries can be directed toPhone 03 8311 5047 (recorded information)or via Email to tila@aus.salvationarmy.orgApplications can be lodged byFax 03 9312 1131 or by posting toPO Box 225, Sunshine VIC 3020Western Australia (WA)• Mission Australia (Bunbury)Phone 08 9721 1122Fax 08 9721 1133Email cooka@missionaustralia.com.au• Salvation Army (Crossroads West)Phone 08 9328 1600Fax 08 9328 1655Email sylvia.mollasi@aus.salvationarmy.org• Wanslea Family ServicesPhone 08 9581 5843Fax 08 9535 3163Email peel@wanslea.asn.auNote:1. If a young person has left care and is not receiving support from a community organisation, theymay still be eligible for a Transition to Independent Living Allowance payment. They should applydirect to FACSIA at GPO Box 7788, Canberra Mail Centre, ACT 2610 or approach their previouscarer or agency.2. TILA administering organisations may change from time to time. If the organisation you makean inquiry of is no longer providing this service, please inquire of them who is the local serviceprovider, or phone 1300 653 227 or visit the TILA website at www.facsia.gov.au and follow thelinks to ‘Youth’ and ‘Transition to Independent Living Allowance’.43

Youth AllowanceIf you have a young person in your care, theymay be eligible for Youth Allowance from their15th birthday if they are:• subject to a care and protection order, and• in full-time study, or undertaking an Australianapprenticeship, or looking for work, or acombination of Centrelink approved activities.Important: Each application for a youngperson in care to receive Youth Allowance istreated individually. It is therefore importantthat the young person provides all the relevantinformation when making a claim for YouthAllowance. A young person’s carer may haveto provide some of this information for theapplication to be assessed correctly.The granting of the Youth Allowance depends on• whether the young person is still subject to acare and protection order• the young person’s age• whether the young person is considered‘dependent’ or ‘independent’ of the carer• a Parental Means Test applied to the fostercarer’s income or assets• a Personal Income Test applied to the youngperson’s income.If a young person is considered to be‘independent’ their Youth Allowance is notsubject to a Parental Means Test. Further, youas the foster carer, will no longer be eligiblefor Family Tax Benefit for this young person.Youth Allowance and Family Tax Benefit arenot payable at the same time in respect of theyoung person.Generally, Youth Allowance (Independent) maybe paid to a young person if they are agedunder 18 years, have not completed Year 12,and:• are in full-time study or training, or• agree to enter into an activity agreement withCentrelink.If a young person is considered to be‘dependent’ their Youth Allowance is subject toa Parental Means Test. Further, as the fostercarer you will no longer be eligible for FamilyTax Benefit for this young person.Some young people in care (aged 16 yearsor older) are considered ‘dependants’ of theircarer(s) even when they are not subject to acare or protection order. If this situation appliesto your young person, they may still be paidYouth Allowance as a dependent young person,subject to your foster carer’s income and assetsmeeting the Parental Means Test.The usual age eligibility for Youth Allowanceis between 16 and 20 for jobseekers, and 16to 24 for full-time students or an AustralianApprentice.Generally, Youth Allowance is paid into theyoung person’s account unless there is a writtenadvice from them asking that the payment goto a third party. If the young person is aged 16or 17 then their Youth Allowance must be paidinto the foster carer’s account unless you as thefoster carer give permission for the payment togo to the young person’s accountYouth Allowance may be paid to a third party(or nominee, eg a carer) on behalf of the youngperson if they are not able to manage theirfinancial affairs. To decide whether a youngperson is able to manage their financial affairs,Centrelink considers any medical and otherevidence (for example, social worker reportsand foster carer’s submissions).There are two payment rates for YouthAllowance. If you, as the young person’s carer:1 receive a foster care subsidy or allowance(from a state or territory government) thenYouth Allowance is paid at the ‘at home’ rate.2 do not receive a foster care allowance, thenYouth Allowance is paid at the ‘away fromhome’ rate.For more information, phone Centrelink on13 1021TTY 1800 810 586Multilingual services 12 1202 orvisit the website atwww.centrelink.gov.au44

Rapp Care Song - Kerry KempWhat does it mean to come into care,The department’s now looking after your welfareAnd your social worker will work with you tooSo you are safe and fed and like being you.You get a care plan and can have your sayOn what you need and want in the place you stay.You can be yourself and can be so coolWhen you say where you live at your local school.You have some rights so do not be connedThat you can’t have a say in your life and respondTo the things that are said about the life that you had,About your brothers or your sisters or your Mum or your Dad.You got a right to be happy, got a right to be sad,Got a right to be healthy and a right to be mad.Got a right to be safe, got a right to be private,Now got a reason to keep it like that.There are friends who can help you and give you adviceWhen you think no-one cares and you tread on thin ice.And you almost go through to the water that’s colderThere are those who will help with a leaning shoulder.You tell your carer or your worker or someone you trustYou have to tell as it is being heard is a mustYou can tell it to the advocates, Kerry or LorettaThey’ll listen to your story and help make it better.They want you to be safe like the rest of your friendsYou deserve the best of care not the bits at the ends.So if you are not feeling safe and life is worse than beforePhone 9 2 2 2 2 5 9 4*Kerry Kemp is Manager, Consumer Advocacy ServiceDepartment for Community Development (WA)(NB Judy Garsed, the new Advocate for Children in Care in WA can also becontacted on 08-9222 2518)* The number in the rapp song is for Western Australia. For assistance in anotherpart of Australia see the contact details under each state and territory supportinformation in the later pages of this publication.Dance Program, Department of Theatre and Dance,University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA45

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORYAustralian Capital Territory support informationThe Office for Children, Youth and Family Support(OCYFS), within the Department of Disability,Housing and Community Services, has the Statutoryresponsibility for the protection and care of childrenand young people in the Territory under the Childrenand Young People Act (1999). The Act provides theauthority for the Chief Executive to place children andyoung people in foster care.With the exception of a targeted Aboriginal and TorresStrait Islander Kinship and Foster Care Service,operating within the Aboriginal and Torres StraitIslander Services Unit of OCYFS, and kinship care, allfoster care is provided by the non-government sector.OCYFS continues to play a pivotal role in thelives of children and young people in foster carethrough Care and Protection Services. This area isresponsible for receiving reports of concern from thecommunity, appraising reports, and on-going workwith children, young people, and their families inaccordance with the Act. The ‘Looking After Children’case management and planning tool is utilised for allchildren and young people in foster care. The sectoris governed by legislation, policies and procedures,Out-of-home Care Standards, and defined roles andresponsibilities.OCYFS is responsible for providing active andregistered foster carers in the ACT with formalcertification for exemption from participationrequirements under the Australian FederalGovernment’s Welfare to Work Reforms.Foster carers are an important community resourceand are required for the provision of home based carefor children and young people who cannot remainat home or be placed with relatives or others whoare known to them. Non-government agencies areresponsible for recruiting, assessing, and trainingfoster carers, and for on-going support in carryingout their delegated parental responsibilities onbehalf of the Chief Executive. The government,non-government agencies, and foster carers worktogether as a team with the child or young personand his/her family to achieve a joint care plan goal.The type of foster care provided in the ACT is respitecare, emergency care, medium term care, longterm care, and specialist foster care. Other formsof out-of-home care in the ACT are kinship care andresidential care.Recruitment of foster carersPeople interested in becoming foster carers cancontact an agency directly. Fostering agencies inthe ACT support carers in a variety of ways. Theseinclude:• Assessment using Step by Step – A competencybased package for assessing potential foster carers• Initial and ongoing training• Caseworker support• 24 hour telephone support• A subsidy to assist with the cost of care• Contact with other carersNon-government agencies providing foster carein the ACT• Marymead Child and Family Centre• Barnardos CanberraDepartment supportDepartment of Disability, Housing andCommunity ServicesOffice for Children, Youth and Family Support11 Moore Street (GPO Box 158)Canberra ACT 2601Phone 13 3427TTY 02 6287 4392Translating and Interpreting Services 13 1450Fax 02 6205 9183Email ocyfs@act.gov.auWebsite www.dhcs.act.gov.au/ocyfsCare and Protection ServicesCare Orders Team 02 6207 1069Appraisals Team 02 6207 5169Family Work Team 02 6207 1466Child Abuse Reporting and After Hours ServicePhone 1300 556 729AgenciesMarymead Child and Family CentrePhone 02 6295 2755Website www.marymead.org.au/Barnardos Children’s Family CentrePhone 02 6241 5466Website www.barnardos.org.auGalilee, Family Placement SchemePhone 02 6290 2191Life Without BarriersPhone 02 6242 6222Children and young people supportCREATE Foundation – ACT BranchLevel 1,34 Laithlain St, Belconnen ACT 2616Phone 1800 655 105Fax 02 6262 7351Website www.create.org.auLegal supportLegal Aid Commission of the ACTPhone 02 6243 3411Website www.legalaid.canberra.net.auCommunity Legal ServicesWebsite www.naclc.org.au/directory/centres.html#actACT Pro Bono Clearing HousePhone 02 6247 5700Email mail@lawsocact.asn.au46

• Galilee Family Placement Scheme• Life Without Barriers, CanberraGovernment provided foster care in the ACT• Kinship Care• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander KinshipFoster Care ServiceFinancial supportFoster carers in the ACT receive an allowance tosubsidise the direct costs of looking after childrenand young people in foster care. Additionalassistance can be provided by contingencies toreimburse additional costs, such as childcare andmedical costs, where it is included in an approvedCare Plan for the child or young person.Foster carers are also eligible to apply forCommonwealth benefits and concessions for thechildren and young people in their care such asParenting Allowance, Family Tax Benefit, CarersAllowance, and Child Care Benefit.TrainingFoster carers participate in Shared Stories, SharedLives training prior to being issued with theauthority to provide care to children and youngpeople on behalf of the Chief Executive. Nongovernmentagencies provide additional training tocarers on an on-going basis, and carers are alsoinvited to attend training held across the sector.The ACT sector is currently developing anaccredited training program for Foster Carers.Completion of this course would provide the carerwith a Certificate at level IV.Other support provisions (including supportfor children/YP)Children and young people in care all have a caseFoster Care Association of the ACT Inc.Office PO Box 4260, Kingston ACT 2604Phone 02 6288 5994 or 02 6241 1665 (24 hours)Fax 02 6253 8887Email fcaact@bigpond.comWebsite www.fcaact.org.auAfter hours assistance and supportmanager and case plan as required under theChildren and Young People Act 1999. An annualreview is required. Other support provisionsinclude:• CREATE ACT is funded to provide support andadvocacy to children and young people in care;• The Department of Education and Training policyis that all children and young people in the Careof the Chief Executive have an Individual LearningPlan;• The Department of Disability, Housing andCommunity Services and the Department ofHealth have a joint protocol to ensure childrenand young people in care have timely access tohealth assessments and medical services;• All children and young people in care are eligiblefor a Health Care Card.Foster carers receive their primary support throughthe non-government agency they have chosen andwho has undertaken their recruitment and training.Additional support is provided by:• The ACT Foster Care Association Inc. andAustralian Foster Carer Association Inc. forsupport and advocacy;• Access to Commonwealth benefits;• Annual foster carers conference;• Access to community providing support servicesfor parents of children and young people.Family Group Conferencing is provided by the Officefor Children, Youth and Family Support to preventchildren and young people coming into foster careand to facilitate the restoration of a child or youngperson to their birth family or relative.Support is available from experienced foster carers 24 hours a day by contacting 02 6288 5994 or02 6241 1665, or via email at fcaact@bigpond.com.Services provided:• telephone, email and internet support and referral service;• newsletter;• support at case conferences and meetings if you would like someone from the Association to attendwith you;• information about foster caring, assistance in accessing appropriate services and, where required,individual advocacy to ensure that foster carers issues are addressed;• books, articles and videos on topics relating to foster care, child behaviour and raising children;• support and assistance to attend specialist day time and weekend training, workshops, seminarsand conferences;• input into training sessions organised by the Office of Children, Youth and Family Support;• annual foster care luncheon;• social activities for foster families;• participation in sector wide consultations and forums about out-of-home care and foster carematters;• liaison with government and private agencies about policy and practice issues;• member of the Australian Foster Care Association Inc., providing regular input on national issuesthat affect ACT foster carers.47AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

NEW SOUTH WALESNew South Wales support informationFoster care is arranged and supported by theDepartment of Community Services (DoCS)and non-government foster care agencies. Theauthority to provide foster care comes under theChildren and Young Persons (Care and Protection)Act 1998 (NSW).Foster care placements for children and youngpeople can be short or long term and include:• Emergency or crisis placements• Short term (temporary) placements• Bridging (medium term) placements• Long term and permanent care placements• Respite care placementsRecruitment, training and authorisation ofcarersPeople interested in becoming foster carersshould contact the Foster Care Recruitment Line(1800 011 110), their local DoCS office or anon-government foster care agency. They willreceive an information package and will be invitedto attend an information session where they canfind out more about the roles and responsibilities offoster carers.Potential carers are trained and assessed using theShared Stories, Shared Lives training package andthe competency based Step by Step assessmentpackage. There is also a culturally specific trainingand assessment package for Aboriginal fostercarers. The assessment process includes probity,reference and medical checks and currentlyinvolves interviews with all members of thehousehold to help determine whether fostering issuitable for them and their family. The training isdesigned to give carers realistic information aboutfoster caring, and help carers understand howchildren’s life experiences effect their behaviourand their capacities.Once the assessment and training is completed andthe application to be a foster carer is approved,carers are authorised to care for a certain numberof children, within a particular age range and levelof need. Some carers may be authorised to provideshort term emergency or respite care, others maybe authorised for long term care.Authorisation is for a period of five years andprobity checks are undertaken again at the endof the five-year period. Throughout the period ofauthorisation carers receive support, supervisionand ongoing training to develop and maintain theskills required to meet the needs of the child oryoung person in their care.DoCS Helpline:Phone 13 2111 TTY 02 9633 7698 to reportchild abuse and neglect (24 hours)Department support and informationDoCS Head Office4-6 Cavill Ave, Ashfield NSW 213(Locked Bag 28, Ashfield NSW 1800)Phone 02 9716 2222TTY 02 9633 7698Fax 02 9716 2999Website www.community.nsw.gov.auDoCS Community Services Centres and regionaloffices - see list of phone numbers onWebsite www.community.nsw.gov.au or in theWhite Pages.RecruitmentRecruitment through the Foster CareRecruitment Line 1800 011 110, any local DoCSoffice, orACWA foster care recruitment line 1800 629 628Children and young people supportCREATE Foundation — NSW BranchPhone 1800 655 105 (for young people in care)Fax 02 9267 9433Kids Help LinePhone 1800 55 1800Legal Aid HelplinePhone 1800 101 810 (for under 18s)Youth LifelinePhone 131 114Counselling supportDomestic Violence LinePhone 1800 656 463TTY 1800 671 442 (24 hours)LifelinePhone 13 1114Salvo Crisis LinePhone 02 9331 2000 (24 hour suicideprevention line)Alcohol & Drug Information ServicePhone 02 9361 8000 or 1800 422 599Family Drug SupportPhone 02 9818 6166 or 1300 368 186Financial support for foster carersFoster carers in NSW receive a fortnightlyallowance. A number of other payments andreimbursements are available to meet theadditional costs of a child or young person. Theseadditional costs may include professional therapy,specialist medical treatment and facilitating contactwith birth families.A list of allowance types and eligibility, and a listof extra financial support available to foster carerscan be found on the DoCS websitewww.community.nsw.gov.au.48Parenting supportKaritanePhone 02 9794 1852 or 1300 227 464 (24 hourinformation and counselling)TresillianPhone 02 9787 0855 or 1800 637 357 (24 hourinformation and counselling)Parent LinePhone 13 2055 (advice and information forparents)

Ongoing support for foster carersSpecialised foster care support positions havebeen established in each of DoCS’ seven regionsto be responsible for the recruitment, training andsupport of foster carers.DoCS caseworkers can help to arrange supportfrom psychologists, remedial teachers, respite careand health services, depending on the child’s needsas identified in case planning.DoCS provides funding to the Foster CareAssociation (NSW) Inc. and the Aboriginal Child,Family and Community Care State Secretariat, tosupport and train foster carers and caseworkers.RecruitmentRecruitment through the Foster Care RecruitmentLine 1800 011 110, any local DoCS office, or ACWAfoster care recruitment line 1800 629 628.Advocacy and guardianship supportNSW Commission for Children and Young PeoplePhone 02 9286 7276Office of the Children’s Guardian (OCG)Phone 02 9025 4200Administrative Decisions TribunalPhone 1800 060 410 (free call)NSW OmbudsmanPhone 02 9286 1000 or 1800 451 524 (free call)Foster care service providersFor an extensive list of NSW foster care serviceproviders see www.community.nsw.gov.auFoster Care Association (NSW) Inc.Office 131 Hawkesbury Road Westmead NSW 2145Phone 02 9633 5816 (Office hours 9am — 5pm Monday to Friday)02 9633 3824 (24 hour support)Fax 02 9633 4914Email fcansw@fcansw.org.auWebsite www.fcansw.org.auAfter hours assistance and supportA 24 hour support line is available for all foster carers, department or non-government. It isanswered by experienced foster carers. Please call 02 9633 3824.Services provided:Legal supportLegal Aid NSW (Law Access NSW)Phone 1300 888 529Website www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/asp/index.aspCommunity Legal ServicesWebsite www.naclc.org.au/directory/centres.html#nswNSW Bar Association Legal AssistanceSchemePhone 02 9232 4055Website www.nswbar.asn.au/Public/LegalAssistance/content_legass.phpLaw Society of NSW Pro Bono SchemePhone 02 9926 0364Website www.lawsociety.com.au/page.asp?partID=6744Public Interest Law Clearing House (NSW)Phone 02 9299 7833. Fax 02 9299 7855Website www.piac.asn.au/legal/pilchhelp.htmlSupreme Court of New South Wales LegalAssistance SchemePhone 02 9230 8071Website www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/sc/sc.nsf/pages/probonoIndigenous care supportAboriginal Child, Family and CommunityCare State SecretariatPhone 02 9264 8190 or 02 9264 0088Aboriginal Statewide Foster Carer SupportServicePhone 02 9264 0088 or 1800 888 698• telephone and Email support and referral;• support person/s available to attend case conferences/court/mediation and administrative decisiontribunal and various other meetings as requested, including allegations in care;• access to Support Groups across the state;• advocacy on all issues pertaining to foster care and kinship care;• bi-annual conference;• camps for carers and children in care and carers’ own children;• support to attend training, conferences or workshops about the care of children in out-of-home care;• input into DoCS training of new caseworkers and/or information sessions about carers and caring;• newsletter (10 times a year) delivered to all foster carers in NSW known to the Association;• books, articles and videos relating to foster care available for hire from the Association library;• partnership with the Aboriginal Child, Family and Community State Secretariat (AbSec) aboutindigenous care issues;• partnership with CREATE to gain the maximum input for children and young people in out-of-homecare;• active member of AFCA, the national voice of foster carers, providing regular input on nationalissues with an impact on NSW foster carers.NEW SOUTH WALES49

NORTHERN TERRITORYNorthern Territory support informationThe Family and Children’s Services (FACS) programin the Department of Health and CommunityServices (DHCS), has the statutory responsibilityfor the delivery of care and protection servicesto children and young people. Once a child isidentified as being in need of care, FACS makesarrangements to locate a suitable placement.The majority of children are placed in family basedcare, which includes foster care and relative care.Foster carers and relative carers are approved andregistered to provide safe and nurturing care tochildren and young people within their own home.Foster carers can provide care to a broad rangeof children and young people. Relative carers areregistered to provide care for specific children.They are typically related to the child or have asignificant pre-existing relationship with them.The majority of children are placed in out-of-homecare because they have suffered harm or are atrisk of potential harm. FACS will continue to workwith the child’s family to reunite them as quicklyand safely as possible. Depending upon the childand their families’ circumstances, children may beplaced in emergency, respite, short or long termcare.FACS holds primary responsibility for recruiting,training, assessing and supporting the majority offamily-based placements across the NT.Legislation requires FACS to abide by the AboriginalChild Placement Principle. This means that everyeffort must be made to place Indigenous childrenwithin their immediate or extended family networkswherever possible. If relative care options do notexist, placement with Indigenous carers will besought. Typically, two thirds of children and youngpeople in out-of-home care are Indigenous.Training and accreditationPeople interested in becoming a carer must beassessed to determine their suitability to providecare to our most vulnerable children and youngpeople.Information to determine a carers’ suitability iscollected through several face-to-face interviews,referee reports, and child-safe screening checks(including medical and criminal history check).Applicants must have a physically safe environmentto care for children and young people.The assessment process is about getting toknow you and what you have to offer as acarer. Applicants will need to provide detailedinformation about themselves, their backgroundand their family. This information is compiledinto a confidential written report that informs theoutcome of your assessment.Suitable carers will be approved and registered forup to 12 months. It is a requirement that carersare re-assessed and re-registered every twelvemonths thereafter.Limited orientation training opportunities areavailable to carers in the NT. Work is currentlyunder way to deliver a consistent training packageShared Stories, Shared Lives to all carers acrossthe NT. FACS will introduce mandatory orientationtraining in the very near future.50Government department supportDepartment of Health and CommunityServicesPO Box 40596 CASUARINA NT 0811Phone 08 8999 2400Translating and Interpreting Services08 8999 4302 or 1800 676 254Fax 08 8999 2700Website www.nt.gov.au/healthFACS After Hours Crisis ServicePhone 1800 700 250Darwin Urban Placement Unit SupportTeamGround floor Casuarina PlazaCnr Trower Road and Vanderlin Drive, CasuarinaNT 0811Phone 08 8922 7077Katherine FACSKatherine Government Centre, First Street,KatherinePhone 08 8973 8600East Arnhem FACSArnhem House Endeavour Square, NhulunbuyPhone 08 8987 0400Darwin Remote FACSBlock 4 Royal Darwin Hospital Campus, DarwinPhone 08 8922 8474Alice Springs Placement Support Team60 Hartley Street, Alice SpringsPhone 08 8955 6001Barkly FACSTennant Creek Hospital, Smith Street, TennantCreekPhone 08 8962 4334Children and young people supportCreate Foundation — NT BranchShop 17a Casuarina PlazaPhone 1800 655 105Fax 08 8945 7752Legal supportLegal Aid Commission — NTPhone 08 8999 3000 or 1800 019 343Website www.ntlac.nt.gov.au

RecruitmentFACS always welcomes calls from people interestedin becoming a carer. FACS encourages people ofall ages, racial and occupational backgrounds toapply, as this enhances FACS’ capacity to makeculturally appropriate placements and better matchthe needs of a child to a carer with the right skillsto meet these needs. Indigenous carers are alwaysencouraged to apply.People can nominate to care for children of acertain age and/or children with special needs.If you would like more information about becominga carer contact the FACS office in your local areadirectly. Alternately you can visit www.nt.gov.aufor further information.SupportBeing a carer means that you’re an essential partof the team that supports the current and futureneeds of the child or young person in care. As partof this team, you will have regular contact witha wide range of people and professionals and, inparticular, ongoing contact with FACS.Being a carer is a rewarding yet challengingrole. Whilst FACS is a key source of support to allregistered carers, other Departments, communitybased agencies, your friends and family can alsoprovide you with support as required. The child’scaseworker will be a good source of informationFoster carers may come into contact with a range of services and organisations throughout theirfoster care career, services too numerous to mention in this publication. A comprehensive range ofsupport services is located in the front pages of your local telephone book under the heading ‘Healthand Help’.Foster Care NT Inc.Office 5B/18 Bauhinia Street (PO Box 1287), Nightcliff NT 0814Phone 08 8948 3204 (9am – 5pm, Monday, Wednesday; 9am – 1pm, Friday)0408 750 945 (After hours assistance and support)Fax 08 8948 0509Email ntfca@bigpond.net.auAfter hours assistance and supportFoster Care NT Inc (foster carer to foster carer) after hours service 0408 750 945.Services provided:specific to the child(ren) in your care. Inemergencies, registered carers can also access the24 hour FACS After Hours Crisis Service.Carers are encouraged to meet other carers whoshare a valuable understanding of the demandsof the caring role and can provide additionalsupport to you and your family. The NT foster careassociation is able to link you to other carers inyour local area.Financial supportFACS pays regular payments to registered carers tocontribute to the costs of caring for the child withintheir home. Carer payment rates are reviewed andadjusted annually.Carer payments are not considered as wages orincome, but are intended to re-imburse carers forthe daily expenses of caring for a child includingfood, clothing, pocket money and other householdexpenses. Payments are calculated according tothe age of the child.Alternate payment rates may be applied when achild who has a disability and/or high daily careand support needs is placed with a carer. Higherpayment rates are calculated on the basis thatcarers are expected to provide additional care andsupport above and beyond what would normally beexpected.• telephone support and referral service;• support at case conferences and meetings if you would like someone from the Association to attendwith you;• information about foster caring, advice and assistance in accessing appropriate services;• individual advocacy as required;• literature information to prospective foster families;• social activities for foster families;• newsletters;• conferences;• training seminars;• annual camps in each region (Top End and Central Australia) for foster families;• liaison with government and private agencies about policy and practice issues;• active member of AFCA, the national voice of foster carers, providing regular input on nationalissues that have an impact on Northern Terrntory foster carers.NORTHERN TERRITORY51

QUEENSLANDQueensland support informationThe provision and administration of out-of-homecare in Queensland is the responsibility of theDepartment of Child Safety, a departmentdedicated to protecting Queensland’s children andyoung people and ensuring they are safe fromabuse and neglect.Under the department’s program, out-of-home carein Queensland is predominantly delivered throughfamily-based care by individuals who are recruited,assessed, trained and supported by either thedepartment or specially funded non-governmentcare services. While carers may be trainedand supported by a funded care service, thedepartment is responsible for approving all carers.There are two types of family-based out-of-homecare in the Queensland system:• Foster care is provided by approved carers intheir own homes. Foster carers provide safe andcaring homes for these children to live for shortor long periods of time• Kinship care is provided by an approved personwho is related to the child or young personin out-of-home care or considered to be asignificant person in their life. Kinship carers canassist children and young people to maintain linkswith their family.In June 2005 there were approximately 2,700approved carer households in Queensland caringfor around 5,700 children and young people inout-of-home care. In approximately 32% of thesehouseholds the carer is a relative or someone elseknown to the child prior to their entry into care.Training and approval of carersFoster carer applicants are assessed to determinetheir suitability to care for abused or neglectedchildren who are very vulnerable and who oftenrequire a great deal of support. This assessment isbased on information collected through a variety ofsources, including interviews, written assessments,initial pre-service training, referee reports, andpersonal history checks.This assessment process is very detailed andcan include, for example, consideration of theprospective carer’s family structure, personalbackground, and their ability and motivation tobecome a foster carer. The ways in which familiesmay cope with some of the pressures and stressassociated with fostering is also taken into account.During the assessment, personal history checks(such as child protection checks) are undertakenand prospective carers are also required topossess a Blue Card provided by the QueenslandCommission for Children and Young People andChild Guardian.Queensland’s carer training package for fostercarers is called Quality Care: Foster Care Training.The pre-service component of this trainingpackage is undertaken by applicants before theybecome an approved foster carer and is designedto help prospective carers prepare for their newrole. All foster carers receive the same initialtraining, which outlines what is required of them,information about child development and behaviourmanagement, and other skills they will need toprovide quality care.52Government department supportDepartment of Child Safety111 George Street, Brisbane QLD 4000(GPO Box 806, Brisbane QLD 4001)Phone 07 3224 8045 or 1800 811 810TTY 07 3012 8655Translating and Interpreting Services 13 1450Fax 07 3404 3570Email info@childsafety.qld.gov.auWebsite www.childsafety.qld.gov.auEmergency supportChild Safety After Hours Service Centreafter hours telephonePhone 1800 177 135Website www.childsafety.qld.gov.auParentline - counselling for parents andprimary carersPhone 1300 301 300Website www.parentline.com.auRecruitmentDepartment of Child Safety Foster CarerRecruitment LinePhone 1300 550 877Email fcrecruit@childsafety.qld.gov.auChildren and young people supportCREATE Foundation — QLD Branch5/55 Clarence Street, Coorparoo QLDPhone 1800 655 105Fax 07 3847 3971Carer supportFoster Carer Advocacy and Support Team(FAST) UnitPhone 07 3268 5955 or 0400 647664 (FAST Coordinator)Fax 07 3268 5970Email fcq@fcq.com.auWeb www.fcq.com.auPlacement supportChildren’s Services TribunalPhone 07 3225 8346 or 1300 855 345Fax 07 3225 8345Email mailbox@justice.qld.gov.auWebsite www.justice.qld.gov.au/cstLegal supportLegal Aid QueenslandPhone 1300 651 188Fax 07 3238 3300Website www.legalaid.qld.gov.au

Following their initial approval as a foster carer,carers are required to participate in ongoinglearning, completing an additional three modulesin the first year after approval and thereafteraccording to an individually tailored learning andsupport plan.Kinship carers have similar assessment andapproval processes to foster carers.All foster and kinship carers are approved in thefirst instance for a period of 12 months and arereassessed at the end of that time. If they remainassessed as suitable to remain carers, they areprovided with additional approval periods of up totwo years.RecruitmentIn Queensland, the recruitment of foster carers isan ongoing activity driven by the efforts of ChildSafety Service Centres and funded care services.For more information on foster care and becominga carer in Queensland:• Contact your local Child Safety Service Centre; or• visit www.childsafety.qld.gov.au; or• Phone the foster care recruitment line on1300 550 877 for the cost of a local call.SupportCurrently, the department and funded care servicesoffer a range of supports to foster and kinshipcarers that include ongoing case work, respite,participation in decision making, financial support,advocacy and referral, practical support, learningand development, and peer support and mentoring.Carers can also receive support from otherFoster Care Queensland Inc.government departments, community agencies,other carers, their community and the informalnetworks that they may develop. Carers can alsoseek assistance from Foster Care Queensland,a peak organisation that provides support andadvocacy services to foster carers through FosterCarer Advocacy and Support Teams (FAST).Financial supportApproved carers receive an allowance that is acontribution towards the direct costs of lookingafter children and young people in out-of-homecare. The allowance covers items such as food,clothing, household provisions, gifts, pocketmoney and entertainment. The allowance isnot considered a ‘payment’ for fostering and itis not a source of income. It contributes to areimbursement of the real costs associated withproviding care.An enhanced allowance is provided to those whocare for children and young people with high andcomplex support needs. Other reimbursements tocarers for child related costs are also available fromthe department.Foster Carer CardApproved foster carers and kinship carersthroughout Queensland are eligible to receive theFoster Carer Card. The Card is intended to assistcarers in their day-to-day fostering duties witheasy identification to government agencies andservices and also provides access to a range ofdiscounts from participating businesses.Information on Queensland’s foster care programcan be accessed at www.childsafety.qld.gov.au.Office Unit 5, 921 Kingsford Smith Drive (PO Box 1179) Eagle Farm Qld 4009Phone 07 3268 5955 (9am — 5pm, Monday to Friday)07 3807 9455 (After hours assistance and support)Email fcq@fcq.com.auWebsite www.fcq.com.auAfter hours assistance and supportAssociation after hours number 07 3807 9455, orcall the nearest FAST delegate in your area — Phone 07 3268 5955 or after hours 0400 647 664.Services provided:• individual support services through the Foster Carer Advocacy and Support Team (FAST);• FAST delegates through out the state to provide advice, support and advocacy where needed forfoster, kinship and provisional carers;• telephone and Email support and advocacy — 24 hours;• newsletter provided monthly to members;• resource booklets available to all members;• staff undertake systems and peer advocacy;• kinship care, Indigenous care and disability sub-committees;• agents to the Children’s Services Tribunal;• facilitation of training modules for the Department of Child Safety;• active member of the Australian Foster Care Association Inc., and regularly providing input onnational issues that effect Queensland carers;• organisation and facilitation of recognition awards for carers and staff;• organisation of yearly Queensland Foster Care Conference;• active on numerous workgroups that inform policy and practice for Department of Child Safety andnon-government services;• working with other peak organisations to enhance the Child Protection sector;• working with non-government service providers.QUEENSLAND53

SOUTH AUSTRALIASouth Australia support informationThe Department for Families and Communities,through its statutory agency Families SA, isresponsible for providing alternative care servicesin South Australia.The alternative care sector also comprisesnon-government services who are contractedby government to provide a range of alternativecare placement options, including Indigenous andnon-Indigenous home based foster care, specialneeds care, stabilisation and transitional care, andadolescent care. Government and non-governmentsectors work together to provide placements foraround 1,400 children and young people aged from0 to 18 years who are unable to remain in the careof their legal guardians (in most cases, their birthparents).Relative and kinship carers form a significantcomponent of alternative care services in SouthAustralia. This is in recognition of the importancefor children to remain with their family or kinshipgroups in order to maintain relationships andcultural connections. Families SA identifies, trainsand supports relative and kinship carers who areable to care for specific children within their familyor kinship group. Approximately 26 per cent of allchildren who cannot reside with their birth parentsor legal guardians are found placements withrelatives or their kinship group.Where placements with extended family or kinshipgroups are not an option, family based foster careis an important component of the alternative caresystem. There are approximately 900 foster carers(at June 2006) in South Australia and this is shortof current demand. Foster carers are recruited,trained and supported through non-governmentagencies contracted by government. Approval andregistration of foster carers is the responsibility ofFamilies SA through its Registration and LicensingUnit.The main placement types of care provided withinSouth Australia include:• respite care ― generally for a regular plannedperiod of time such as one weekend a month or aweek during the school holidays• emergency care ― generally these placementsare needed when a child or young person isat risk of immediate and serious harm andmust be removed from their parents to ensuretheir immediate safety, welfare and wellbeing.However, emergency placements may also berequired when a parent is unable to look aftertheir child in the short term, for example, as aresult of hospitalisation or imprisonment• short to medium term care ― when the goal isreunification with the biological parents• long term care ― when the placement is intendedto be permanent.TrainingThe recruitment, training, assessment andretention of foster carers in South Australia iscurrently under review.Anglicare, as the major provider of home basednon-Indigenous care in the Adelaide metropolitanarea, provides a Foster Carer Orientation Courseover a six to seven week period on four occasions54Government department supportFamilies SAGuardianship and Alternative Care DirectorateLevel 1, CitiCentre,11 Hindmarsh SquareAdelaide SA 5000(GPO Box 292, Adelaide SA 5001)Phone 08 8226 7000Fax 08 8226 6681Email enquiries@dfc.sa.gov.auWebsite www.familiesandcommunities.sa.gov.auCrisis Response UnitPhone 13 1611Families SA, case worker, supervisor, ormanager at the local district centre — see WhitePages for location contact detailsPhone 13 1611 (after hours)Reporting child abusePhone 13 1478Carer information and supportFoster Carer Relations — Department forFamilies and CommunitiesPhone 08 8207 0796Families SA case worker or manager at thelocal District Centre — see White PagesPhone 13 1611 (after hours)Phone 13 1478 to report child abuse or neglectYour Alternative Care Service ProviderFor your alternative care service providercontact your placement support worker orsupervisorOffice of the Children’s GuardianPhone 08 8226 8570Email gcyp@saugov.sa.gov.auWebsite www.gcyp.sa.gov.auParent Helpline (24 hour information and help)Phone 1300 364 100Website www.parenting.sa.gov.auGrandparents for Grandchildren SAPhone 08 8265 5605 or 08 8266 3618Grandparents Raising GrandchildrenPhone 08 8305 9200National Association for Prevention ofChild Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) SA— protective parentingPhone 08 8232 6430Website www.napcan.org.au/SA/support.htmChildren and young people supportCREATE Foundation — SA BranchPhone 1800 655 1056Website www.create.org.auKids Help Line — 24 hoursPhone Freecall 1800 551 800 orWebsite www.kidshelp.com.auYouth Helpline (24 hour support/counselling)Phone 1300 131 719 or 08 8303 1691Website www.cyh.com

throughout the year. Training usually consists ofone evening or one day per week, depending onthe carer’s availability to attend. Foster carersare also expected to attend a small number oftraining sessions each year to support them intheir role. Similarly, relative and kinship carerscan be expected to attend some training sessionsand ongoing information sessions, as required byFamilies SA, to assist and support them in theircaring role.There is some recognition of prior learning given tothose who have previously studied topics coveredduring orientation training.RecruitmentThe Department for Families and Communitiesruns a Foster Carer Recruitment Service to provideinformation to people interested in becoming fostercarers. The recruitment service sends informationpacks to potential carers. This includes informationabout the agencies that recruit, train and assessfoster carers across the state.Recruitment is managed through a number ofservice providers across the metropolitan andcountry regions of South Australia. There arespecific agencies that target recruitment towardsAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander familiesand varied cultural backgrounds, such as Africanand Afghani families for the Refugee MinorsProgramme.All funded non-government service providersconduct their own recruitment. These agenciesconduct a full assessment of the potential carer’scapacity to be approved as a foster carer. Ifthe carer is considered suitable, the providermay make a recommendation to Families SA’sRegistration and Licensing Unit to approve andformally register the carer.SupportFamilies SA provides approved and registeredcarers (foster, relative and kinship) with a basicsubsidy payment and extra allowances, such aseducation and clothing, to assist with daily livingcosts for the child or young person. The casemanager may make additional funds available onan assessed needs basis. When there are specialor high complex needs, such as the child haschallenging behaviors and/or disability issues, anextra loading may be provided. Similarly, if caseworkers are working towards reunifying a childwith his/her family, a reunification subsidy may beavailable for carers to assist with costs expectedwith the extra demands of reunification, such astransporting the child to and from access moreregularly than normal.South Australia is introducing a new emergencypayment to carers (on top of the basic subsidypayment) in 2006, to acknowledge the effort offoster families in making their homes available incrisis situations.Once a foster carer has a child or young personplaced into their care, an allocated Families SAcase manager and agency support worker provideongoing support and assistance to support theplacement. Relative and kinship carers areallocated a relative care support worker who canprovide ongoing support and assistance.Recruitment, training and support servicesMetropolitanFoster Carer Recruitment ServicePhone 1800 210 145Website www.fostercarers.org.auAnglicare SAPhone 08 8256 2185Time for KidsPhone 08 8362 6311Website www.timeforkids.com.auFamilies SA (relative and kinship carers)Website www.familiesandcommunities.sa.gov.auNorthern country(Port Pirie, Port Augusta, Kadina andCoober Pedy)UnitingCare Wesley Port PiriePhone 08 8633 8601Whyalla, Port Lincoln and CedunaCentacare WhyallaPhone 08 8645 8233Southern country(South East, Riverland and Murrayland)Anglican Community CareMt GambierPhone 08 8724 9211MurraylandsPhone 08 8532 6303RiverlandPhone 08 8582 2344If you are interested in caring for children oryoung people with a disability:Life Without Barriers (for children or youngpeople with a disability)Phone 08 8172 0855If you are interested in caring for adolescents:Baptist Community ServicesPhone 08 8277 8088If you are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanderand interested in becoming a carer:Aboriginal Family Support Services -MetropolitanPhone 08 8212 1112 or 1300 365 712Website www.afss.com.auWhyalla, Port Augusta and Port PirieAboriginal Family Support Services - PortAugustaPhone 08 8641 0907Port Lincoln and CedunaPort Lincoln Aboriginal Health Services (notAFSS affiliated)Phone 08 8683 0162Coober Pedy and OodnadattaAboriginal alternative care service(Waltjapiti) based at Families SA Coober PedyPhone 08 8672 4555Southern Country Aboriginal Partnership(auspiced with Anglican Community Care)Mt GambierPhone 08 8724 9211MurraylandsPhone 08 8532 6303RiverlandPhone 08 8582 2344SOUTH AUSTRALIA55

SOUTH AUSTRALIAA state-wide Crisis Response Service is available toall carers after business hours ― Phone 13 1611.The Foster Carer’s Charter outlines the Departmentfor Families and Communities commitment tofoster carers, relative carers and kinship carers,and makes clear the rights and responsibilities ofcarers, Families SA case workers, and other partneragencies in the alternative care sector who supportand work with carers.Financial assistanceFamilies SA — your local district centre — seeWhite PagesCentrelinkPhone 13 1021Website www.centrelink.gov.auFamily Assistance OfficePhone 13 6150Website www.centrelink.gov.auConnecting Foster Carers – South Australia Inc.Office P.O.Box 288 Kilburn SA 5084Phone 1800 732 272 (24 hour service from anywhere in Australia)Fax 08 8186 4794Email enquiries@cfc-sa.org.auWebsite www.cfc-sa.org.auAfter hours assistance and supportPeer support is available from experienced foster carers by contacting CFC’s contact line1800 732 272.Services provided:ComplaintsCustomer Service Officer in Families SAPhone 08 8226 6930 or Freecall 1800 003 305– must try resolving issue at District Centre levelin first instance and if dissatisfied, can lodgecomplaint.Office of the Guardian – represents theinterests of children and young people in carePhone 08 8226 8570Email gcyp@saugov.sa.gov.auWebsite www.gcyp.sa.gov.auState Ombudsman’s OfficePhone 08 8226 8699 or Freecall 1800 182 150The Families SA Executive Director, RegionalDirectors, Director Guardianship and AlternativeCare, DFC Chief Executive, Members ofParliament and the Minister for Families andCommunities will also respond to writtencomplaints.• telephone and internet support and referral service;• newsletter to all South Australian carers;• contributing to the dissemination of information to and about carers;• peer support and assistance to obtain information about foster caring and accessing appropriateservices to ensure that carers needs are addressed;• support at case conferences and meetings if carers would like someone from the Association toattend with them;• social activities for foster families;• support and facilitation of regional support groups;• liaison with government and non-government agencies about policy and practice issues;• input into training sessions organised by the Department and non-government agencies;• member of the Australian Foster Care Association Inc., providing input on national issues that havean impact on South Australian foster carers;• supporting the development and implementation of innovative programs and strategies that buildthe strength and capacity of carers in the alternative care system;• providing input into the development and revision of alternative care policies, charters andevaluations as they pertain to the interests, rights and responsibilities of carers;• working with CREATE to gain the maximum input for children and young people in out-of-homecare.56

Tasmania support informationThe Department of Health and Human Servicesmanages the majority of foster care placementsand all formal kinship care placements in Tasmania.The non-government sector manages cottage careplacements and some foster care placements.Children and young people at risk of abuse orneglect may be placed in out-of-home care underthe Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act1997. In Tasmania placement options for childrenand young people include:• Kinship Care (extended family/friends orcommunity network)• Family Group Home (short term placements in ahome provided by the Department)• Foster Care (emergency, short and longer termplacements in the home of the carer/s)• Sibling Group Care (longer term placementsfor sibling groups in a home provided by theDepartment and community organisations)• Cottage Care (placements for medium to highneeds adolescents provided through communityorganisations)• Rostered Care (placements for high needsadolescents provided by the Department).The preferred placement option is with membersof the extended family and community networkwherever possible. Family group conferencing is akey decision making process for children in need ofcare and protection in Tasmania. Planning for allchildren placed in out-of-home care in Tasmania isin accordance with the Looking After Children (LAC)case management framework.Recruitment of carersThere is always a need for foster carers,especially carers who have the capacity to care foradolescents and the Department always welcomespeople who are interested in becoming carers.Out-of-home care teams in each region recruitfoster carers and other carers mainly throughadvertisements in local papers. Potential fostercarers are invited to attend an information sessionbefore they apply to be assessed as suitable carers.Potential kinship carers for specific children areidentified through discussions with their parentsand other family members. The use of familygroup conferences as a decision making processfor planning for children with care and protectionconcerns is also an avenue for identifying familymembers who may be willing and able to providecare.For more information about becoming adepartmental carer please contact 1800 001 219during office hours.Training and accreditation of carersFoster carers complete the training program,Shared Stories, Shared Lives before they areapproved as carers. Approved carers areencouraged to further develop their skills throughother training opportunities. Joint training withchild protection workers is encouraged. Somecarers have been supported to complete relevantmodules of the Certificate Level IV CommunityServices (Protective Care) course.Kinship carers are not required to complete the57Government department supportDepartment of Health and Human Services34 Davey Street, Hobart TAS 7000(GPO Box 125, Hobart TAS 7001)Phone 03 6233 3185 or 1300 135 513TTY, Translating and Interpreting ServiceAvailable at all major hospitalsFax 03 6233 4201Website www.dhhs.tas.gov.auEmergency supportA 24-hour phone line, which takes calls aboutsuspected abuse or neglect of children agedunder 18 years of agePhone 1300 737 639Drug and alcohol supportA 24-hour phone service, which provides anyonein the community with access to drug andalcohol counselling, information and referral toservicesPhone 1800 811 994Parenting supportParenting HelplineA 24-hour phone service that assists withstressful parenting issues and concernsPhone 1300 808 178Children and young people supportCREATE Foundation — Tas. BranchWorks to ensure that children and young peoplein care are afforded the same life opportunitiesas all young Australians45 Sandy Bay RoadSandy Bay TAS 7004Phone 03 6224 9822Fax 03 6224 8733Children’s well-beingFor support about matters that relate to thewell-being of children in Tasmania, contactCommissioner for ChildrenLevel 5, 99 Bathurst Street, Hobart TAS 7000Phone 03 6233 4520 or 1300 362 065Legal supportFor legal assistance contact Legal AidCommission of TasmaniaPhone 03 6236 3800Website www.legalaid.tas.gov.auTasmanian law online ― TasmanianlegislationWebsite www.thelaw.tas.gov.au/links/index.w3pTASMANIA

TASMANIAShared Stories, Shared Lives training program butare encouraged to attend specific sessions or othertraining programs relevant to them. The policyposition in relation to kinship care placementsrecognises that kinship carers have similar butdifferent needs to foster carers especially inrelation to training and skills development.Foster carers are assessed via Step by Step acompetency based model for assessing potentialfoster carers. The format for assessing kinshipcarers has been adapted from Step by Step.Financial supportFoster carers and formal kinship carers arereimbursed for costs associated with caring fora child placed by the Department. The level ofreimbursement varies in accordance to the age ofthe child. The payment, known as the standardreimbursement, is paid into the carer’s bankaccount on a fortnightly basis. The standardreimbursement covers the day to day child relatedcosts including energy, food, clothing and footwear,household goods and services, health, education,transport, leisure and personal care.Foster and kinship carers also receive an additionalweekly payment (paid on a fortnightly basis) ifthe child is under a short term care order. Carersalso receive an additional payment to purchase aChristmas and birthday present for the child if thechild is in care at these times.Additional costs because the child has additionalneeds such as extra health needs are met throughFoster Carers Association of Tasmania Inc.OfficePhoneEmailWebsiteRoom 3, Ground Floor, McDougall BuildingEllerslie Road Battery Point Hobart 70010437 006 876 (including after hours assistance and support)ksa2@bigpond.comwww.dhhs.tas.gov.au/agency/partnerships/fostercarers.phpAfter hours assistance and supportAfter hours assistance and support can be obtained by phoning 0437 006 876.Services provided:additional payments to carers as well as paymentson behalf of the child. Additional payments mustbe approved through the child’s care plan.Other supportsFoster and kinship carers have a child protectionworker attached to out-of-home care teams ineach region. These workers provide trainingopportunities and activities for carers. Theyare also able to provide advocacy, support andresources such as written information on managingspecific behaviours. Children and young peopleplaced in out-of-home care have a child protectionworker worker who provides case managementsupport for the child and the carer. Casemanagement support includes referrals to specialistservices such as mental health services andsupport to the carer and the child in relation to thechild’s contact with family members. The FosterCarer Association of Tasmania Inc. is also availableto support carers.There are a range of services that may be involvedin supporting a child in foster care. Care planningfor the child is the mechanism for determining whatservices should be involved in supporting the child.The following contacts for Tasmania are generalcontacts for carers rather than a comprehensivelist of services that are available to assist childrenin care. Carers should discuss any concerns theyhave about a child in their care with the child’sworker.• regular newsletters;• meetings;• social activities;• an annual conference;• support during case planing;• support during family conference;• advocacy and support for carers through the Foster Care Advocacy and Support Team (FAST);• telephone support and referral service;• working with Create to gain the maximum input for children and young people in out-of-homecare;• member of the Australian Foster Care Association Inc., providing input on national issues thateffect Tasmanian foster carers.58

Victoria support informationThe Department of Human Services funds 34Community Service Organisations, (including onestate-wide Aboriginal Child Care Agency and fourlocal community based Aboriginal organisations).These organisations recruit, train and supporthome based care givers to care for children andyoung people who are subject to child protectioninvestigation and cannot remain in the care of theirparents.Increasingly, children and young people are placedin kinship care with either relatives or peopleknown to them. These placements are approvedand supervised mainly by the Department ofHuman Services child protection services. Wherethe Court makes a decision that a child cannot livewith their birth parents in the longer term, the childmay be placed with permanent care parents.At any one time, there are approximately 1,800children and young people in temporary fostercare placements in Victoria, not including childrenand young people living with kinship or permanentcarers.Types of home based care programsChildren and young people requiring home basedcare placement have a range of needs, whichrequire different levels of intensity of care. InVictoria, the types of home based care are:General home based careFor children and young people aged up to 18 yearswho are unable to live with their families of origin,either in the short term or long term.Intensive home based careIntensive home based care incorporates‘specialised’ home based care or ‘innovative’ homebased care and ‘shared’ family care.Specialised home based care and innovative homebased care is for children and young people whereprevious, less intensive, placements have beeninappropriate or unsuccessful because of the child’sor young person’s behaviour, additional needs, orhigh demands associated with co-placing largesibling groups.Shared family care is for children and youngpeople with a developmental delay 0 to six years),or an intellectual disability (six to 18 years). Acommunity service organisation worker providessupport and helps people to access specialistservices and other local community resources.There is also a special fund to meet exceptionalcosts related to disability needs.Adolescent Community Placement programFor young people aged 12 to 18 years who areexperiencing crisis and are unable to live with theirfamilies for a range of reasons. The program helpsyoung people to access a temporary, but safe andsecure, home with a volunteer placement providerin their local area.Complex home based careFor very high needs young people who needan individualised home based care option withintensive support and supervision. Care giversare reimbursed and supported according to the59Department support and informationOffice for Children, Department of HumanServices (DHS)50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000Phone 1300 650 172TTY 1800 008 149Email OfficeForChildren@dhs.vic.gov.auWebsite www.office-for-children.vic.gov.auChild safety supportOffice of the Child Safety CommissionerLevel 20, 570 Bourke Street,Melbourne, Victoria 3000Phone 03 8601 5884 or 1300 782 978Email childsafe@ocsc.vic.gov.auWebsite www.ocsc.vic.gov.auPeak body community serviceorganisationsCentre for Excellence in Child and FamilyWelfareLevel 5, 50 Market Street,Melbourne VIC 3000Phone 03 9614 1577Website www.cwav.asn.auThe Centre operates the Foster Care Hotline1800 013 088 for enquiries about becoming afoster carer in VictoriaRecruitmentFor information on becoming a foster carer,contact the Foster Care Hotline.Phone 1800 013 088 (freecall)website www.cwav.asn.au/foster/index.htmlChildren and young people supportCREATE Foundation — Vic. BranchLevel 5, 50 Market Street, Melbourne VIC 3000Phone 1800 655 105Website www.create.org.auCounselling supportGrandparents VictoriaA state-wide community organisation thatprovides advocacy and support for grandparentsPhone 03 9372 2422Email director@grandparents.com.auWebsite www.grandparents.com.auThe Mirabel FoundationProvides support and information to carers andchildren whose parents are unable to care forthem because of incapacity or death due to illicitdrug usePhone 03 9527 9422Website www.mirabelfoundation.comParentlineProvides counselling, information, supportand referral regarding child development andparenting strategiesPhone 13 2289VICTORIA

VICTORIAcomplexity and intensity of the clients’ needs.RecruitmentEach community service organisation recruitscare givers directly, using a range of recruitmentstrategies to raise awareness of their need forfoster carers. Additionally the Department ofHuman Services funds the Centre for Excellencein Child and Family Welfare to raise communityinterest in foster care and recruit care giversthrough the Foster Care Project. This projectprovides a 24-hour foster care recruitment hotline(phone 1800 013 088) that provides generalinformation on foster care and refers people totheir local community service organisation.Financial supportAll care givers receive some reimbursementtowards the ordinary day-to-day costs ofcaring for a child or young person. The level ofreimbursement depends on the age of the childor young person in their care and the complexityof the child’s care needs. An additional sum of$48 per fortnight is paid to care givers for thefirst six months in placement. The care giverreimbursement is a contribution towards the costof items such as food, clothing, household items,gifts, pocket money and entertainment.The Department of Human Services paysreimbursements fortnightly. Care givers areentitled to reimbursement for a child in theircare until the child or young person reaches 18years of age; completes the school year that theycommenced prior to their 18th birthday; or gainsfull time employment.Quarterly educational and health paymentsAs well as the fortnightly reimbursements,payments of $200 per quarter per child or youngperson (pro rata, depending on how long a childor young person is in placement) are made toassist care givers to meet the educational andhealth needs of children and young people in theircare.Other financial supportOn a case-by-case basis, supplementary clientexpenses and Placement Support Grants are alsoavailable by application to assist with a range ofadditional expenses.Training and assessmentAll potential home based care givers are requiredto undergo assessment and attend pre-servicetraining to provide them with the knowledge andskills necessary to provide high quality care tothe children and young people they look after. Atpresent, training is developed and delivered bythe community service organisation who:• has responsibility to approve people as carers;• supports and supervises them when a child isplaced in their care; and• provides ongoing training in partnership withthe Department of Human Services.A common state-wide, competency basedassessment and pre-service training package isbeing developed for use by all community serviceorganisations.A formal community service organisation or60Community Service Organisations34 Community Service Organisations(CSOs) provide foster care programs. CSOs’contact details may be obtained through theDepartment of Human Services regional officesor through telephone directoriesLegal supportChildren’s CourtDeals with matters relating to children andyoung people regarding protection and care, aswell as criminal offencesPhone 03 8601 6700Website www.childrenscourt.vic.gov.auVictorian Legal AidLegal information and assistance, with feesworked out depending on your financial situationand the assets you ownPhone 03 9269 0234 or1800 677 402 (country callers)Website www.legalaid.vic.gov.auLaw Institute of Victoria Legal AssistanceSchemePhone 03 9607 9311Fax 03 9602 5270Email lawinst@liv.asn.auWebsite www.liv.asn.au/publicVictorian Bar Legal Assistance SchemeWebsite www.vicbar.com.auPublic Interest Law Clearing HousePhone 03 9225 6680 or 03 9225 6675Website www.pilch.org.au

egional approval panel approves care givers.Prospective care givers must have a satisfactorypolice check, and are required to obtain a free‘Working with Children’ check that includes acriminal records check for offences involvingchildren. Working with Children checks must berenewed every five years.For more information about the processes forbecoming a foster carer in Victoria, phone thefoster care recruitment hotline on 1800 013 088.Other supportCommunity service organisations provide regularsupport to care givers, including after hourssupport. Home based carers can also receivesupport through broader, state-wide networkswith other care givers, including the Foster CareAssociation of Victoria Inc.Looking After Children provides a framework foridentifying the needs of children and young peopleand developing plans which aim to meet theseneeds. Care givers are important members of eachchild or young person’s care team. They share theparenting responsibilities and work collaborativelywith the Department of Human Services andcommunity service organisation staff, otherprofessionals, birth parents and/or other significantadults, and the child or young person, to providegood care.The Partnering Agreement ― School Attendanceand Engagement of Children and Young People inOut-of-home Care between the Office for Childrenand the Department of Education and Training― requires schools to establish a Student SupportGroup for all students in out-of-home care. Thisinvolves developing an Individual Education Planfor all students in home based care. It alsoinvolves caregivers, and assists them to meet theeducational needs of children and young peoplethat they care for.Foster Care Association of Victoria Inc.Office 48 High Street (PO Box 729) Northcote VIC 3070Phone 03 9489 9770 (9am – 5pm Monday to Friday)Email admin@fcav.orgWebsite www.fcav.orgAfter hours assistance and supportCommittee members and interim help line volunteers provide after hours support. For contactdetails, telephone the Foster Care Association of Victoria office or see the Association’s newsletter atwww fcav.org.auTo support and assist in Indigenous care matters, the Association works with the Victorian AboriginalChild Care Agency (VACCA) (Phone 03 8388 1855) and other organisations representing Indigenouspeople on these issues.Services provided:• telephone and Email support, information and referral service;• attendance at case conferences and case planning meetings as support person for carer if requested;• bimonthly newsletter;• annual Foster Care Conference;• participation in policy working groups;• encouraging and supporting development of regional and local support groups for carers;• certificates of recognition to foster carers;• annual super support awards to agencies;• help line (currently being established);• website at www.fcav.org;• member of the Australian Foster Care Association Inc., looking at national issues that affect Victorianfoster carers.VICTORIA61

WESTERN AUSTRALIAWestern Australia support informationFoster care in WA is shared between theDepartment for Community Development andnon-government sector placement agencies.The Department for Community Developmentarranges the placement of children, who are inthe care of the Department’s Chief ExecutiveOfficer, with departmental foster carers andwith non-government placement agencies. TheDepartment has a central carer register, whichincludes all departmental and non-governmentfoster carers. At any one time there areapproximately 1500 children in foster care.The Department for Community Developmentoffers a ‘1:1’ specialised intensive service whichrecruits, assesses and trains carers for youngpeople with difficult to manage behaviours.The Department has developed a home based,professional foster care service and is currentlyrecruiting carers. As well, an Intensive PlacementSupport and Treatment Team is being established.The Department funds the Foster Care Associationof Western Australia Inc. to provide foster careradvocacy, support, assistance and advice.The Children and Communities Services Act 2004was proclaimed on 1 March 2006. It means therewill be significant changes to the processes andprocedures in the children in care area.Training and accreditationPreparation training is mandatory for general andrelative carers. Carers usually attend a seriesof preparation training sessions while relativecarers can work through the required trainingwith an assessor in their own home, if preferred.Training programs incorporate a competencybased approach, which is reviewed annually, andcontinuous training opportunities are offered toall carers via the Department for CommunityDevelopment specialist unit ― Fostering Services(Phone 08 6380 5900).In approving carers, the Department must besatisfied that the individual is able to:• Provide care for a child in a way that promotesthe wellbeing of the child and the child’s familyand interpersonal relationships, and protects thechild from harm• Provide a safe living environment for a child• Work cooperatively with departmental officers, achild’s family, and other people when providingcare for a child• Take responsibility for the development of theircompetency and skills as a carer• Is a person of good character and repute.For existing carers, who have not completed thenewly developed, competency based program,the review process is based on ‘Recognition ofPrior Learning’ principles and processes. AlthoughFostering Services, within the Department forCommunity Development, is not a registeredtraining organisation, a mandatory trainingpackage for general carers has been developed toenable accreditation within the National TrainingFramework. Consultations about the frameworkare under way with CSHEITAB (WA) regardingCrisis CareA 24-hour government phone line for peoplein crisis ― offers help with issues like domesticviolence, child abuse and suicide counsellingPhone 08 9223 1111 or 1800 199 008Alcohol and Drug InformationA 24-hour phone service with access to drugand alcohol professional counselling, informationand referral to services (part of QUIT WA, not anemergency service)Phone 08 9442 5000Parenting LineProvides information and advice about caring forchildren aged up to 18 yearsPhone 08 9272 1466 or 1800 654 432 (countrycallers)Government department supportDepartment for Community Development189 Royal Street, East Perth WA 6004(PO Box 6334, East Perth WA 6892)Phone 08 9222 2555 or 1800 622 258TTY 08 9325 1232Translating and Interpreting Services 13 1450Fax 08 9222 2776Website www.community.wa.gov.auConsumer advocateReceives complaints about the Department forCommunity Development servicePhone 08 9222 2594 or 1800 013 311Advocate for children and young people inthe department’s carePhone 08 9222 2518 or 08 9222 2594Legal supportChildren’s CourtDeals with matters relating to children andyoung people regarding protection and care aswell as criminal offences160 Pier St, Perth WA 6000Phone 08 9218 0112Website www.justice.wa.gov.auFamily Court of Western AustraliaHelps with resolving or determines familymattersPhone 08 9224 8222Website www.familycourt.gov.auLegal AidPhone 1300 650 579Website www.legalaid.wa.gov.auWelfare Rights and Advocacy ServiceProvides free, independent information, advice,advocacyPhone 08 9328 1751Fax 08 9227 1375Website www.wraswa.org.auWomen’s Law CentreFree legal advice line for women in WA, mainlyfocusing on family lawPhone 08 9272 8800 or 1800 625 12262

progressing a qualification for foster carers withinthe Community Services Training package.Criminal record screening and department recordscreening are undertaken for both general andrelative carers before carers are registered.Criminal record screening is updated every threeyears and department record screening is updatedas part of the review or re-assessment process.RecruitmentDepartmental general carers are recruited,assessed and trained by Fostering Services. Aninformation package about foster care is availablefrom Fostering Services.Relative carers are recruited, assessed andtrained by the Department’s district offices locatedthroughout the state.Assessments for all carers are endorsed by a CarerAssessment Panel which includes an experiencedcarer.Staff with the Department’s 1:1 program and theprofessional home based treatment service recruit,assess and train collaboratively with FosteringServices.Fostering Services and the non-governmentplacement agencies are also exploring thedevelopment of collaborative recruitmentstrategies.Persons interested in being a foster carer shouldcontact:• Department for Community DevelopmentFostering ServicesPhone 08 6380 5900 or 1800 024 453 (freecallWA statewide),Website www.community.wa.gov.au• Foster Care Association of Western Australia Inc.Phone 08 9399 1911 or 1800 64 1911 (freecallWA statewide)Website www.fcawa.com.au• Anglicare Teenshare emergency, medium andlong term foster care for young people aged12-17 yearsPhone 08 9325 7033• Mercy medium to long term foster care forchildren aged 0-17 yearsPhone 08 9442 3444• Mofflyn long term care for children or youngpeople with disabilities – funded by theDisabilities Services CommissionPhone 08 9458 5333• Spectrum children with complex needs under theaged of 12 yearsPhone 08 9245 2441• Wanslea Family Services emergency foster carefor children up to 12 yearsPhone 08 9245 2441• Yorganop emergency foster care and medium tolong term care for children of Aboriginal descentPhone 08 9321 9090Financial and other supportA non-taxable subsidy is paid to general andrelative carers ranging from $198 per fortnight for0 to six year-olds to $300 per fortnight for 13 to 18year-olds. 1:1 carers receive $675 per fortnight.Clothing allowance is paid for all childrenRecruitmentFostering Services, Department forCommunity DevelopmentPhone 08 6380 5900 or 1800 024 453Website www.community.wa.gov.auFoster Care Association of WesternAustralia Inc. See next page for detailsCommunity foster care agencies (See‘Agencies’ below)AgenciesAnglicare TeenshareEmergency foster care program for youngpeople aged 14 to 17 yearsPhone 08 9325 7033Email teenshare@anglicarewa.org.auMercyLong term foster care for children aged 0 to 17yearsPhone 08 9442 3444Email familyservices@mercygroup.com.auParkerville Children and Youth CareMedium to long term care for children andyoung people aged 0 to 17 yearsPhone 08 9295 4400Uniting Care West (formally Mofflyn)Long term care for children or young peoplewith disabilities (Referrals through theDepartment of Community Development)Phone 08 9458 5333Email www.unitingcarewest.org.auWanslea Family ServicesEmergency foster care for children aged up to12 yearsPhone 08 9245 2441Email dutysw@wanslea.asn.auYorganopEmergency foster care for children of AboriginaldescentChildren and Young People in care supportCREATE Foundation — WA Branch8 Oswald St, Victoria Park WA 6100PO Box 4033, Victoria Park WA 6979Phone 08 9470 6155 or 1800 655 105Fax 08 9470 6177Website www.create.org.auAdvocacy or children’s supportAdvocate for Children in CarePhone 08 9222 2518Consumer Advocacy ServicePhone 08 9222 2594WESTERN AUSTRALIA63

in placement three times per year, with the amountreflecting the age of the child. Pocket money isalso proivded reflecting the age of the child.Counselling services for foster carers are availablefrom the Department for Community Developmentfunded external provider. Telephone supportand advice is available from the Department forCommunity Development:• Crisis Care 08 9223 1111 or 1800 199 008• Parenting Help Line 08 9272 1466 or1800 654 432• Fostering Services 08 6380 5900 or1800 024 453 and• The Foster Care Association 08 0388 1911 or1800 65 1911.The government has developed a handbook, aStatement of Commitment and Charter of Rightsfor foster carers in partnership with the Foster CareAssociation of Western Australia Inc. Handbooksare available from the Foster Care Associationwebsite at www.fcawa.com.au, or by writing tothe association at 89 Hensman Road, SubiacoWA 6008.WESTERN AUSTRALIAFoster Care Association of Western Australia Inc.Office 89 Hensman Road, Subiaco WA 6008Phone 08 9388 1911 (9am to 5pm Monday to Friday), or 1800 641 911 (24 hours)Email admin@fcawa.com.auWebsite www.fcawa.com.auThe Foster Care Association provides support, advice, advocacy, mentoring for new carers, supportgroups, children’s clothing and equipment.After hours assistance and supportTo speak to another foster parent about a problem, phone the Foster Care Association on 08 92464285 (after hours).Crisis CareIf you cannot contact your case worker and you need help at any time, phone Crisis Care and ask tospeak with the social worker ― just talking may be enough to overcome the problemPhone 08 9223 1111 or 1800 199 008.Services provided• phone support and referral service, mentoring for new carers, and support groups;• support at case conferences and meetings if you would like someone from the Association to attendwith you;• information about foster caring for foster families, assistance in accessing appropriate services and,individual advocacy to ensure that their issues are addressed;• facilities for contact visits ― our premises in Subiaco are available for the child in your care to visitwith their family; contact visits in Subiaco need to be supervised by an agency or departmentalworker;• information to potential foster families;• print information resources and videos, books and articles are available on loan;• second hand clothes and equipment for all foster children ― these are free, however donations to thestore are always welcome;• daytime and weekend training workshops;• input to training sessions organised by the Department for Community Development and privateagencies;• certificates and Badges of Appreciation presented to foster families, based on the length of time theyhave been fostering;• ‘Certificates in Training’ presented to foster families for training modules they have completed·socialactivities for foster families;• liaison with government and private agencies about policy and practice issues;• member of the Australian Foster Care Association Inc., providing regular input on national issues thataffect WA foster carers.64

IndexAAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in careAboriginal Child Placement Principle 36Background article by the Secretariat of the National Aboriginaland Islander Child Care 36Caring for 23Contacts for more information 37Cultural plans 37Genealogical tracking 37Maintaining links with personal culture 37Shane, Aboriginal carer 38Understanding the Aboriginal family 36Useful resources 37Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations with specialistinterest in caring for children 39Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services Unit(ACT) 39Aboriginal Child, Family & Community Care(NSW) 39SA Aboriginal Family Support Services 39Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care(SNAICC) 39Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre (TAC) 39Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency - VACCA 39Yorganop Childcare Aboriginal Corporation(WA) 39ABSTUDY 39Accessing Legal Aid 29Acknowledgements 67Additional help for grandparents 17Administering organisations. See Transition to Independent LivingAllowanceAgencies and agency support. See your state or territory pagesfor further informationArrangements for people on Parenting Payment 10Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme 32Australian Capital TerritoryFoster Care Association of the ACT Inc. 47Support information 46Australian Childhood Immunisation Register 33Australian Government 6Australian governmentsRoles of 6Australian Government payments and allowances summary table7BBianca, former child in care 28CCarer Allowance 9Carer Payment 9Carer recruitment. See your state or territory pages for furtherinformationCarer support. See your state or territory pages for further informationCarer training. See your state or territory pages for furtherinformationCaring for Indigenous kids 23Centrelink 8Documents needed for Welfare to Work purposes 13Children’s passportsConsent requirements 27Consent under Australian Government and state and territorygovernment laws 27Forms needed 27Children and young people in careConcession cards 33Medicare cards 33Children and young people support. See your state or territorypages for further informationChild Care Access Hotline 17Child Care Benefit 1765Child Care Tax Rebate 18Child Support Scheme 17Claire, former child in care 31Concession cards 7, 33, 34Connecting Foster Carers - South Australia Inc. 56Counselling support. See your state or territory pages for furtherinformationCrisis care. See your state or territory pages for further informationDDefining features of Australian foster carers 19Documents needed by Centrelink to register as an active fostercarer 13Double Orphan Pension 18EElizabeth, veteran carer of babies 25Emergency support. See your state or territory pages for furtherinformationExemptions from participation requirements 12FFamily Tax Benefit (FTB)Care that is temporary or short term 21Entitlement of foster carers 20Family Tax Benefit Part A 20Family Tax Benefit Part B 20Formal care 20Informal care 21Ongoing care 21Temporary and short term care 21Feedback 67Financial support from state or territory government. See yourstate or territory pages for further informationFormal care and Family Tax Benefit 20Foster Carer Advocacy and Support Team (FAST) Unit -Queensland 52Foster care associationsConnecting Foster Carers - South Australia Inc. 56Contact details 40Foster Carers Association of Tasmania Inc. 58Foster Care Association (NSW) Inc. 49Foster Care Association of the ACT Inc. 47Foster Care Association of Victoria Inc. 61Foster Care Association of Western Australia Inc. 64Foster Care Queensland 53Northern Territory Foster Carers Association Inc. 51Foster care association contact details 40Foster care storiesBianca, former child in care 28Claire, former child in care 31Elizabeth, veteran carer of babies 25Jennie, birth child of foster carers 14Laurel, Jennie’s Mum 15Matthew, young person in care 41Shane, Aboriginal carer 38Tamara, my foster Mum was amazing 30Foster children and Medicare cards 33Foster child Health Care Card 34GGovernment department support 6, 7. See also your state orterritory pages for further informationGovernment responsibilities 6GrandparentsAdditional help for grandparents 17, 21, 22, 26Additional help with child care costs 17Grandparent child care benefit 26Grandparents as carers 26HHealth Care card. See Foster child Health Care Card

IIndigenous carerAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations with specialistinterest in caring for children 39Shane, Aboriginal carer 38Indigenous care support. See your state or territory pages forfurther informationIndigenous kidsJennie, birth child of foster carers 14Informal care and Family Tax Benefit 21Inside journey through foster care 16Isolated Children, Assistance 32JJennie,birth child of foster carers 14LLarge Family Supplement 32Laurel, Jennie’s Mum 15Legal Aid 29Access to 29Alternate sources 29Legal support. See your state or territory pages for furtherinformationMMaternity Immunisation Allowance 24Maternity Payment 24Matthew, young person in care 41McIntosh, Dr Jennifer 16Medicare cards 33Multilingual servicesCentrelink access number 8Family Assistance Office access number 8Multiple Birth Allowance 24NNewstart Allowance 35New South WalesFoster Care Association (NSW) Inc. 49Support information 48Northern TerritoryFoster Care NT Inc. 51support information 50OOngoing care, and Family Tax Benefit 22Organising foster children’s passports 27Overseas travel 27PParenting Payment 35Parenting support. See your state or territory pages for furtherinformationParticipation requirements and foster carers 10Passports for foster children 27Consent requirements for children’s passports 27Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme 33Placement support. See your state or territory pages for furtherinformationQQueenslandFoster Care Queensland Inc 53Support information 52R‘Registered and active’ foster carers 11Automatic exemptions 12Carers not considered registered and active 11Documents needed by Centrelink 12, 13Requirements 11Rapp Care Song - Kerry Kemp 45Recruitment. See your state or territory pages for further information66Roles of Australian governments 6Roles of state and territory governments 6SSA Aboriginal Family Support Services (South Australia) 39Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care(SNAICC) 39Shane, Aboriginal carer 38South AustraliaConnecting Foster Carers - South Australia Inc. 56Support information 54Stories of foster care. See Foster care storiesSummary table of Government payments and allowances 7Support for young people. See your state or territory pages forfurther informationTTamara, my foster Mum was amazing 30TasmaniaFoster Carers Association of Tasmania Inc. 58Support information 57Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre (Tasmania) 39Temporary and short term care and Family Tax Benefit 21Thorpe, Professor Ros 19TILA. See Transition to Independent Living AllowanceTraining. See your state or territory pages for further informationTransition to Independent Living Allowance 42administering organisations 43How to apply 42TTYCentrelink access number 8Family Assistance Office access number 8VVictoriaFoster Care Association of Victoria Inc. 61Support information 59Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) 39WWelfare to Work 10and foster carers 10and Newstart Allowance 10and Parenting Payment 10Arrangements for people on Parenting Payment 10Documents needed by Centrelink to register as an active fostercarer 12Moving, or living, interstate 12participation requirements for foster carers 10Western AustraliaFoster Care Association of Western Australia Inc. 64Support information 62Williams, Sharron 23Work requirement exemptionAre exemptions renewable? 12Rules for carers who move interstate 12YYorganop Childcare Aboriginal Corporation (Western Australia)39Youth Allowance 44

FeedbackThis publication is the first national publication of its kind in Australia. We hope ithas provided information that you as carers or supporters in the foster care sectorfind useful, interesting and encouraging.If you• think the publication was a good idea and has been helpful, or• have suggestions to make about how else to inform foster carers about thesupport that they can obtain, or• have stories to offer, or• think there is a need to provide further information of this kind,please let us know with an email to AFCAHandbook@bigpond.comIf you would also be prepared to answer any further questions, please provide yourcontact details with your other comments.AcknowledgementsAustralian Government agencies:Attorney-General’s DepartmentCentrelinkDepartment of Education, Science and TrainingDepartment of Employment and Workplace RelationsDepartment of Families, Community Services and Indigenous AffairsAustralian Taxation OfficeDepartment of Foreign Affairs and TradeMedicare AustraliaState and Territory government agencies:Australian Capital Territory: Office for Children,Youth and Family SupportNorthern Territory: Department of Health and Community ServicesNew South Wales: Department of Community ServicesQueensland: Department of Child SafetySouth Australia: Department for Families and Communities (Families SA)Tasmania: Department of Health and Human ServicesVictoria: Department of Human Services (Office for Children)Western Australia: Department for Community DevelopmentAnn Arnold, a journalist who specialises in social issuesArthur Mostead AM, Photography & DesignAustralian Foster Care Association Inc. and foster care associations in each state and territoryBev Orr, Immediate Past President, Australian Foster Care Association Inc.Dance Program, Department of Theatre and Dance, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA (Dancegroup photograph)Dr Jennifer McIntosh, child clinical psychologist, Adjunct Associate Professor at La Trobe University and AssociateSenior Lecturer at the University of MelbourneDr Ross Gurney, Project Manager, Better Enterprises Pty LtdFotosearch Stock Photography and Stock Footage (Royalty Free Images), Publitek, Inc. dba Fotosearch, 21155Watertown Road, Waukesha, WI 53186-1898 USA for royalty-free images throughoutHandbook steering committee comprised of representatives of the Australian Government and state and territorygovernments, foster care associations, non-government agencies, the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and IslanderChild Care, and CreateJohn Byrne, cartoonist and author of How to get an Agent available at www.getmemyagent.comKatie Pring, a young Aboriginal carer and artistKerry Kemp and the Department of Community Development (WA) Rapp Care SongNational Capital PrintingProfessor Ros Thorpe, Professor of Social Work and Community Welfare, James Cook University and Chief Investigator,Mackay/Whitsunday Foster Care Research ProjectProject officers for the Community and Disability Services Ministers’ Advisory Council (CDSMAC) Foster Care WorkingGroupSecretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC)Sharron Williams, Executive Officer of Aboriginal Family Support Services, South AustraliaThe people from around Australia who shared their true experiences in the stories, and the children and young peoplethe excerpts of whose tributes to their foster carers have also been included67

Their future is in our handsISBN 0 9775997 0 168