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

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in placement three times per year, with the amountreflecting the age of the child. Pocket money isalso proivded reflecting the age of the child.Counselling services for foster carers are availablefrom the Department for Community Developmentfunded external provider. Telephone supportand advice is available from the Department forCommunity Development:• Crisis Care 08 9223 1111 or 1800 199 008• Parenting Help Line 08 9272 1466 or1800 654 432• Fostering Services 08 6380 5900 or1800 024 453 and• The Foster Care Association 08 0388 1911 or1800 65 1911.The government has developed a handbook, aStatement of Commitment and Charter of Rightsfor foster carers in partnership with the Foster CareAssociation of Western Australia Inc. Handbooksare available from the Foster Care Associationwebsite at www.fcawa.com.au, or by writing tothe association at 89 Hensman Road, SubiacoWA 6008.WESTERN AUSTRALIAFoster Care Association of Western Australia Inc.Office 89 Hensman Road, Subiaco WA 6008Phone 08 9388 1911 (9am to 5pm Monday to Friday), or 1800 641 911 (24 hours)Email admin@fcawa.com.auWebsite www.fcawa.com.auThe Foster Care Association provides support, advice, advocacy, mentoring for new carers, supportgroups, children’s clothing and equipment.After hours assistance and supportTo speak to another foster parent about a problem, phone the Foster Care Association on 08 92464285 (after hours).Crisis CareIf you cannot contact your case worker and you need help at any time, phone Crisis Care and ask tospeak with the social worker ― just talking may be enough to overcome the problemPhone 08 9223 1111 or 1800 199 008.Services provided• phone support and referral service, mentoring for new carers, and support groups;• support at case conferences and meetings if you would like someone from the Association to attendwith you;• information about foster caring for foster families, assistance in accessing appropriate services and,individual advocacy to ensure that their issues are addressed;• facilities for contact visits ― our premises in Subiaco are available for the child in your care to visitwith their family; contact visits in Subiaco need to be supervised by an agency or departmentalworker;• information to potential foster families;• print information resources and videos, books and articles are available on loan;• second hand clothes and equipment for all foster children ― these are free, however donations to thestore are always welcome;• daytime and weekend training workshops;• input to training sessions organised by the Department for Community Development and privateagencies;• certificates and Badges of Appreciation presented to foster families, based on the length of time theyhave been fostering;• ‘Certificates in Training’ presented to foster families for training modules they have completed·socialactivities for foster families;• liaison with government and private agencies about policy and practice issues;• member of the Australian Foster Care Association Inc., providing regular input on national issues thataffect WA foster carers.64
IndexAAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in careAboriginal Child Placement Principle 36Background article by the Secretariat of the National Aboriginaland Islander Child Care 36Caring for 23Contacts for more information 37Cultural plans 37Genealogical tracking 37Maintaining links with personal culture 37Shane, Aboriginal carer 38Understanding the Aboriginal family 36Useful resources 37Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations with specialistinterest in caring for children 39Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services Unit(ACT) 39Aboriginal Child, Family & Community Care(NSW) 39SA Aboriginal Family Support Services 39Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care(SNAICC) 39Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre (TAC) 39Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency - VACCA 39Yorganop Childcare Aboriginal Corporation(WA) 39ABSTUDY 39Accessing Legal Aid 29Acknowledgements 67Additional help for grandparents 17Administering organisations. See Transition to Independent LivingAllowanceAgencies and agency support. See your state or territory pagesfor further informationArrangements for people on Parenting Payment 10Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme 32Australian Capital TerritoryFoster Care Association of the ACT Inc. 47Support information 46Australian Childhood Immunisation Register 33Australian Government 6Australian governmentsRoles of 6Australian Government payments and allowances summary table7BBianca, former child in care 28CCarer Allowance 9Carer Payment 9Carer recruitment. See your state or territory pages for furtherinformationCarer support. See your state or territory pages for further informationCarer training. See your state or territory pages for furtherinformationCaring for Indigenous kids 23Centrelink 8Documents needed for Welfare to Work purposes 13Children’s passportsConsent requirements 27Consent under Australian Government and state and territorygovernment laws 27Forms needed 27Children and young people in careConcession cards 33Medicare cards 33Children and young people support. See your state or territorypages for further informationChild Care Access Hotline 17Child Care Benefit 1765Child Care Tax Rebate 18Child Support Scheme 17Claire, former child in care 31Concession cards 7, 33, 34Connecting Foster Carers - South Australia Inc. 56Counselling support. See your state or territory pages for furtherinformationCrisis care. See your state or territory pages for further informationDDefining features of Australian foster carers 19Documents needed by Centrelink to register as an active fostercarer 13Double Orphan Pension 18EElizabeth, veteran carer of babies 25Emergency support. See your state or territory pages for furtherinformationExemptions from participation requirements 12FFamily Tax Benefit (FTB)Care that is temporary or short term 21Entitlement of foster carers 20Family Tax Benefit Part A 20Family Tax Benefit Part B 20Formal care 20Informal care 21Ongoing care 21Temporary and short term care 21Feedback 67Financial support from state or territory government. See yourstate or territory pages for further informationFormal care and Family Tax Benefit 20Foster Carer Advocacy and Support Team (FAST) Unit -Queensland 52Foster care associationsConnecting Foster Carers - South Australia Inc. 56Contact details 40Foster Carers Association of Tasmania Inc. 58Foster Care Association (NSW) Inc. 49Foster Care Association of the ACT Inc. 47Foster Care Association of Victoria Inc. 61Foster Care Association of Western Australia Inc. 64Foster Care Queensland 53Northern Territory Foster Carers Association Inc. 51Foster care association contact details 40Foster care storiesBianca, former child in care 28Claire, former child in care 31Elizabeth, veteran carer of babies 25Jennie, birth child of foster carers 14Laurel, Jennie’s Mum 15Matthew, young person in care 41Shane, Aboriginal carer 38Tamara, my foster Mum was amazing 30Foster children and Medicare cards 33Foster child Health Care Card 34GGovernment department support 6, 7. See also your state orterritory pages for further informationGovernment responsibilities 6GrandparentsAdditional help for grandparents 17, 21, 22, 26Additional help with child care costs 17Grandparent child care benefit 26Grandparents as carers 26HHealth Care card. See Foster child Health Care Card
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Australian Foster CareAssociation I
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ContentsPreface 5Roles of the Austr
Page 5 and 6:
Message from the MinisterChildren a
Page 7 and 8:
Australian Government payments anda
Page 9 and 10:
Carer AllowanceCarer PaymentCarer P
Page 11 and 12:
Initial exemptions are for up to 12
Page 13 and 14: Documents that Centrelink in each s
Page 15 and 16: Laurel,LaurelJennie’s MumNone of
Page 17 and 18: Child SupportSchemeThe Australian G
Page 19 and 20: Defining featuresof Australian fost
Page 21 and 22: • the relevant court orders, if a
Page 23 and 24: Caring forIndigenous kidsMore foste
Page 25 and 26: Elizabethzabeth, veteran carer of b
Page 27 and 28: Organising foster children’s pass
Page 29 and 30: Accessing Legal AidPeople seeking l
Page 31 and 32: ClaireClaire, former child in careI
Page 33 and 34: Foster children and Medicare cardsT
Page 35 and 36: threshold of $500 in a calendar yea
Page 37 and 38: The importance of maintaining links
Page 39 and 40: ABSTUDYABSTUDY is available to Abor
Page 41 and 42: MatthewMatthew, young person in car
Page 43 and 44: Transition to Independent Living Al
Page 45 and 46: Rapp Care Song - Kerry KempWhat doe
Page 47 and 48: • Galilee Family Placement Scheme
Page 49 and 50: Ongoing support for foster carersSp
Page 51 and 52: RecruitmentFACS always welcomes cal
Page 53 and 54: Following their initial approval as
Page 55 and 56: throughout the year. Training usual
Page 57 and 58: Tasmania support informationThe Dep
Page 59 and 60: Victoria support informationThe Dep
Page 61 and 62: egional approval panel approves car
Page 63: progressing a qualification for fos
Page 67 and 68: FeedbackThis publication is the fir
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