Page 5770 - Week 13 - Thursday, 18 November 2010
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1 (b) The outcome of the tender was notified to the successful organisation (Marymead) on 2 August. Since that time Marymead and the Department have agreed the details of this service. Marymead are in the process of recruiting a worker and establishing the service which is due to commence operating in December 2010.
1 (c) Marymead
1 (d) August 2010
1 (e) Marymead are currently funded to provide support services to grandparent and kinship carers through the Family Support Program. This new service funded under the Kinship Care Support Program will begin operating in December.
1 (f) the new funding agreement will be for $40,000 per annum.
1 (g) funding under the agreement above at (f) will be paid quarterly.
2 (a)this is a new area of service and the emerging evidence of need and the messages from consultation indicated a need for a range of services using the strengths of a number of providers. For example one in five children in care are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and any strategy has to take account of the need to invest in services to this community. No one organisation currently has the skills or experience to provide the range of provision identified as needed. Also a need was identified for advice and advocacy as well as counselling across the carer population.
2 (b) Please see I (b).
2 (c) Please refer to (b) above.
2 (d) $140,000 per annum was available under the Kinship Care Support Program of which $40,000 has been allocated.
2 (e) in exploring the availability of appropriate service providers the department will follow procurement guidelines.
3 (a and b (i)) An October 2008-2009 figure is not provided as financial data is reported on an annual basis. 2009-2010 figures are provided. The department supports kinship carers in a variety of ways including a Carer Liaison Officer who provides advice and information, funding to the Foster Care Association ($56,700 per annum) who represent both foster and kinship carers, two case management teams within Care and Protection to support kinship placements, $2.3 million per annum on on-going subsidies and $1.4 million per annum in contingencies (09-10), $19,000 per annum (09-10) to Marymead Grandparents Support Service (through the Family Support Program) and committed in the last year $10,000 to Grandparent and Kinship Carers Act to fund carers to attend relevant conferences. Funding agreements are indexed annually, the figure for subsidies and contingencies increases annually in line with the number of children in Out of Home Care, and these payments are also indexed.
3 (b (ii)Please see 3 (a)
3 (b(iv)) Marymead are funded to provide a support service to grandparent carers, Grandparent and Kinship Carers ACT were funded to attend conferences and conduct meetings, the Foster Care Association of the ACT are funded to provide advice and support to foster and kinship carers.
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