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

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