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Support for kinship and foster carers

Help to look after a child in your care, including money, wellbeing check-ups, training and government and community support.

Kinship and foster carers play a very important role in helping Canberra children grow up safe, strong and connected.

When you're a kinship or foster carer, you'll get support from teams that include:

  • case managers
  • carer liaison officers
  • therapeutic services
  • cultural services
  • community support organisations.

You'll also get:

  • financial support
  • training to support your carer skills
  • invitations to events like morning teas to connect with other carers.

Carer handbook

The Carer handbook [PDF 6.8MB] is the guide for approved kinship and foster carers in the ACT.

It will help you understand:

  • your role and responsibilities
  • decision-making, relationships, finance and legal matters
  • what the child’s care team is and your role in it
  • how to look after yourself
  • what to do if you have concerns about the child in your care
  • what happens when it's time for a child to return to their family.

Financial support

You'll get financial support from the ACT Government and can apply to the Australian Government for other payments and services.

ACT Government payments

You'll get financial support to help cover the costs of caring for a child. This includes:

  • a carer payment every fortnight, called the Foster and Kinship Care Subsidy.
  • payments for approved costs.

Read our Subsidies and financial support guide for children in care [PDF 298KB]

If the child needs anything extra, you can talk to your case worker about:

  • other support payments
  • how to get approval for purchases
  • how to get reimbursed for agreed costs.

Australian Government payments

Carers can also apply for financial support from the Australian Government through Services Australia.

We can write a letter to Services Australia to let them know you are a carer for a child in out of home care.

You may be able to get other Australian Government payments and services including:

  • Child Care Subsidy
  • Child Wellbeing Subsidy
  • Family Tax Benefit
  • Carer Payment
  • Child Disability Assistance Payment

For more payments and to apply, check Services Australia payments for non-parent carers.

Help to access financial support you're entitled to

Contact Services Australia's Grandparent, Foster and Kinship Carer Advisers.

Call them from Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm on 1800 245 965.

Paid or unpaid leave from your employer

Your employer may provide paid or unpaid parental leave if you're a foster or kinship carer.

Check with your employer to find out how they can support you.

Carer support contacts

Kinship carers

For children with case management

Your main support will be your case manager.

Australian Childhood Foundation

Barnardos

Key Assets Australia

For children on a short-term or interim order

You can contact the Children, Youth and Families Kinship Assessment and Support team.

Kinship Assessment and Support team

Foster carers

For children with case management

Your main support will be your case manager.

Barnardos

Key Assets Australia

OzChild

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers or children

You can contact one of our dedicated teams that support kinship carers and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people and families.

Cultural Services team

Kinship Assessment and Support team

Carer advocacy organisations

Carers ACT

You can get help or support from the Carers ACT – Kinship and Foster Carers Advocacy Service to:

  • to communicate or resolve issues with Children, Youth and Family or case managers, including writing letters, phone calls, attending meetings
  • to care for children with a disability or chronic illness.

Foster Care Association of the ACT

You can get information, referrals and advice through the Foster Care Association of the ACT.

Parenting and family support

Child and family centres

Carers can visit or call a Child and Family Centre for:

Gugan Gulwan Aboriginal Youth Centre

Young people and their families can get support from the Gugan Gulwan Child, Youth and Family Support Program.

CREATE

CREATE is the Children and Young People Engagement Support Service. Children in care can get support and connect with other children in care through CREATE programs and events.

Help to understand childhood trauma

It helps to understand how childhood trauma can affect a child’s development, relationships and identity. This is called ‘being trauma informed’. Being trauma informed will help you support the child in your care.

When you start looking after a child, you’ll meet with a therapeutic assessor to identify the child’s challenges and the support they need.

You can also get information and tips in our therapeutic guides about:

  • calming strategies
  • relational healing
  • positive behaviour support
  • therapeutic care
  • trauma and the body
  • young people’s behaviour.

Learn more in Help to understand childhood trauma.

Training and carer events

Training helps you gain and share knowledge and skills about caring for a child. Our morning teas and other events are a good way to meet other carers. We run training and events through the year.

Our carer newsletter includes upcoming training and events.

You can email us with questions or to join the newsletter mailing list.

Email:

Read more