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

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