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

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