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

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