Securing a Safe and Effective Foster Care System
Australian Foster Care Association
Priorities and Position Statements, 2002–2003
Securing a Safe and Effective Foster Care System
FOREWORD
As at 30 June 2001 there were 16 923 children and young people
who were unable to live at home with their own families. Of these
16 923, 90% of the children were either in foster care or relative
or kinship care.
The latest estimates indicate that there are approximately 9 000
volunteer foster carers in Australia. It is uncertain how many relative
and kinship carers there are Australia wide. Unfortunately there
are no national statistics collected on the numbers of carers in
Australia, but we do know that while the number of children and
young people needing care is increasing, the number of available
carers is decreasing.
The successful placement of children and young people in alternative
care arrangements is heavily dependent on the levels of support
and assistance that the children, young people and carers receive
during the placement. With the decrease in the number of carers
available this becomes even more important.
Foster carers do not receive an income for the voluntary service
they provide. Most receive a subsidy and partial reimbursement for
the costs they incur, and access to some services for the child
in their care. Relative and kinship carers sometimes receive a subsidy
and access to selected support services, but most struggle to make
ends meet from within the family's own limited resources.
In the last four years the Australian Foster Care Association (AFCA)
has been actively involved in several research projects to identify
the support needs of foster carers, relative and kinship carers.
Summaries and a list of the recommendations of the two major studies
in this area are contained in this document.
AFCA has also identified key priority areas that need to be addressed
now to ensure the success of placements for children and young people
in care. These areas have been identified as (in alphabetical order):
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Care;
- Allegations of abuse in foster care;
- Financial conditions in foster care;
- Good Practice;
- Permanency and long term stability in foster care;
- Relative care;
- Support for foster carers; and
- Training and accreditation of foster carers;
The parameters surrounding these areas and a range of strategies
to address them are explained in more detail in this document.
AFCA has also agreed on a strategy to work with the Commonwealth
Government, State and Territory Governments, and State and Territory
Departments to address these areas. The detail of this strategy
has been included in this document, as has a process for annual
review and evaluation to report on progress and to plan for the
next year.
I commend this document to all those with an interest in improving
the provision of foster, relative and kinship care in Australia.
AFCA is committed to working in partnership with other sector stakeholders
throughout Australia because we believe that by working together
we can make a difference.
Bev Orr
AFCA President
Australian Foster Care Association
Priorities for Action in 2000–03
In May 2002 AFCA members, State Foster Care Association representatives
and carers met to discuss and determine AFCA's priorities for 2002-2003.
AFCA determined that recently published research contained in the
reports Supporting Strong Parenting in the Australian Foster
Care Sector, The Costs of Caring: A Study of Appropriate Foster
Care Payments for Stable and Adequate Out of Home Care in Australia
>and A Comparative Analysis of Carer Payments in Australia
would provide the basis for the overall directions to progress
the recommendations of the reports.
This approach will provide all carer associations with a focus
for cohesive movement across the country and through the various
levels of government when raising a number of issues that have been,
and remain, problematic for foster carers regardless of where they
live.
With this in mind, the following strategy has been agreed upon:
- Specific issues will be identified and raised with Directors-General/Department
Secretary nationwide by individual State and Territory Associations.
- The recently released reports entitled Supporting Strong
Parenting in the Australian Foster Care Sector, The Costs
of Caring: A Study of Appropriate FosterCare Payments for
Stable and Adequate Out of Home Care in Australia and A
Comparative Analysis of Carer Payments in Australia >will
be used to work with State and Territory governments to achieve
change.
- Specific issues from the reports will be identified for action
with the Commonwealth Government to facilitate the provision of
leadership across the nation and implement changes in its current
approaches.
The priority issues to be raised with Directors-General are:
- Permanency planning and stability of placement.
- Consistent foster care training and accreditation.
- National standards of foster care.
The issues to be raised with State and Territory Governments
are:
- Use of the report entitled The Costs of Caring: A Study of
Appropriate Foster Care Payments for Stable and Adequate Out of
Home Care in Australiato pursue appropriate reimbursement
for weekly subsidies, child related costs, and allowances appropriate
to the level of care required, particularly in relation to disability
and challenging behaviours.
- Use of the report entitled Supporting Strong Parenting in
the Foster Care Sectorto pursue the full range of adequate
support services required by carers.
The issues to be raised with the Commonwealth Government are:
- Payment of full Family Tax Benefit or Youth Allowance, and full
Child Care Benefit for all children in foster care.
- Continuation and the expansion of Transition to Independent
Living Allowance (TILA) funding to young people exiting care,
including the payment of TILA beyond 18 years of age.
- Provision of leadership in issues relating to the recommendations
contained in the AFCA report entitled Supporting Strong Parenting
in the Foster Care Sector.
To assist in seeking progress in these areas, AFCA has prepared
Position Statements on a number of issues highlighted in the reports.
These statements, and short summaries of the two reports are contained
within this booklet.
AFCA is determined to work for progress together with each State
and Territory. By working together to achieve the outcomes sought,
we can make fostering more satisfying and achieve better outcomes
for children and young people, foster carers and workers.
Reporting on Progress
It is intended that each State and Territory Association will provide
an annual report to enable a National update of progress in the
areas covered in this document. The annual National Report will
use information provided by the States and Territories, and delegates
to the National Conference. It is expected that publication will
occur each December. The following information will be included
in the National Report for 2003:
Commonwealth Government
A description of how the following issues have been raised with
the Commonwealth Government and the progress achieved:
- Payment of full Family Tax Benefit or Youth Allowance and full
Child Care Benefit for all children in foster care
- Continuation and the expansion of Transition to Independent
Living Allowance funding to young people exiting care, including
the payment of this beyond 18 years of age
- Provision of leadership in issues related to recommendations
in the AFCA report entitled Supporting Strong Parenting in
the Foster Care Sector
State and Territory Governments
A description of how the following reports have been used in discussions
with State or Territory Governments and to what extent changes have
been made that reflect the recommendations contained in the following
reports:
- Supporting Strong Parenting in the Australian Foster Care
Sector;
- The Costs of Caring: A Study of Appropriate Foster Care Payments
for Stable and Adequate Out of Home Care in Australia; and
the
- Comparative Analysis of Carer Payments in Australia.
Directors- General/Department Secretary
A description of how the following issues have been raised with
the Directors- General and what has resulted from this:
- Permanency planning and stability of placement;
- Consistent foster care training, accreditation and protocols
for allegations against carers; and
- National standards of foster care.
AFCA Position Statements
For each of the following position statements, a description
of what changes have occurred in this area in the past year.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Care;
- Allegations of abuse in foster care;
- Financial conditions in foster care;
- Good Practice;
- Permanency and long term stability in foster care;
- Relative care;
- Support for foster carers; and
- Training and accreditation of foster carers
Any other comments
This section will detail any other progress achieved in any State
or Territory or any other information that may assist Associations
in gaining additional positive outcomes.
Preparation of Document for 2004
At the National Conference in 2003, a process will be put in place
to identify priorities for 2004; to adjust current position statements;
and to add further position statements.
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