Page 3721 - Week 08 - Thursday, 19 August 2010

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Some young people in long term foster care continue to live with their carers. For those moving on to independent living arrangements, material support to establish themselves is available through Commonwealth and Territory funds.

Consideration can be given to contingency payments for young people over the age of 18 years on a case by case basis. For example payment of vocational/educational programs that have not yet been completed.

Consideration may be given on a case by case basis to authorised foster carers receiving subsidy payments until the young person in their care has finished their secondary education/training past 18 years. Out of Home Care agencies also provide support to carers beyond a child in care’s 18th birthday.

A Compliance Officer within the Department monitors the development of all care plans, including leaving care plans.

Children—care and protection
(Question No 991)

Mrs Dunne asked the Minister for Children and Young People, upon notice, on 30 June 2010:

(1) In relation to training offered to people who provide out of home care for children in the care of the Chief Executive, what training is provided to (a) foster and (b) grandparent and kinship carers.

(2) What was the per head cost of training for (a) foster and (b) grandparent and kinship carers in the 2009-10 financial year.

(3) Can the Minister explain why any differences arise between the training and support given to (a) foster and (b) grandparent and kinship carers in the replies to parts (1) and (2).

Ms Burch: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:

1. a) Foster Carers are provided with pre-service training called ‘Positive Futures Caring Together’. Kinship carers are also able to attend the relevant modules of the ‘Positive Futures Caring Together’ training. In addition to this training foster care agencies also provide training as required based on requests from carers or needs identified by the agencies.

b) Kinship Carers including grandparents can choose to access training from a range of courses specifically provided for kinship carers by DHCS. Examples of the topics covered include:

Understanding and Responding to Complex Trauma

Grief and Loss

Navigating the Care and Protection System

Dealing with Mental Health Issues

Dealing with Drug and Alcohol issues

These modules are a part of the training that foster carers undertake when becoming a foster carer in conjunction with the training their specific agency provides.

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