Contents continued<strong>Australian</strong> 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 <strong>Supporting</strong> 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 <strong>Australian</strong><strong>Foster</strong> 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 Minister<strong>Children</strong> 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 <strong>Supporting</strong> <strong>Carers</strong> of <strong>Other</strong> People’s <strong>Children</strong>: A handbook onsupport for foster, relative and kinship carers and the children and young people in their care, producedby the <strong>Australian</strong> <strong>Foster</strong> Care Association.The <strong>Supporting</strong> <strong>Carers</strong> of <strong>Other</strong> People’s <strong>Children</strong> 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.<strong>Carers</strong> 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 <strong>Australian</strong> 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 <strong>Supporting</strong><strong>Carers</strong> of <strong>Other</strong> People’s <strong>Children</strong> handbook, the <strong>Australian</strong> 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 <strong>Australian</strong> <strong>Foster</strong> 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 <strong>Foster</strong> <strong>Children</strong>, Young People and their <strong>Carers</strong>, the National Plan for <strong>Foster</strong> <strong>Children</strong>, YoungPeople and their <strong>Carers</strong> (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 <strong>Australian</strong> Government and state and territory governments.The <strong>Australian</strong> <strong>Foster</strong> 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 <strong>Australian</strong> 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
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