Kinship care
Recommendation 15
The committee recommends that:
- the Government investigate the circumstances of grandparent carers, with particular concern for the type and level of support available to those taking on the role of primary carer through both formal adoption and informal kinship care;
- governments at all levels increase the level of support and respite available to older Australians undertaking kinship care, particularly for those taking on the role of primary carer to younger children. (Chapter 6)
Response
The Government is developing a national child protection framework by the end of 2008.
The development of the framework is being guided by consultation with appropriate stakeholders including State and Territory Governments, peak organisations and non-government organisations working with children, families, and out-of-home care systems as well as grandparent carers and foster carers. Consideration is being given to the circumstances of grandparents and other relative carers taking on the role of primary care for children.
Practical measures being considered for inclusion in the framework include:
- making better use of Commonwealth levers, including income and family payments;
- better integrating the different parts of the child protection system - both within and across jurisdictions and the non-government sector;
- developing common national standards and measures of performance;
- addressing workforce problems and shortages;
- improving the system for indigenous children, and support the Government’s measures to “close the gap”; and
- improving the out of home care system and the support provided to young people transitioning from care.
It is envisaged that grandparent carers and other forms of out-of-home care will be a key area of focus for the framework.
FaHCSIA is a partner agency in the research led by Professor Bettina Cass of the Social Policy Research Centre at the University of NSW to investigate the needs and special circumstances of both formal and informal grandparent carer families in Australia. This research is expected to provide reliable evidence on which to base future policy and service delivery decisions for this group. This three-year project is expected to finish in 2011.
The Government provides financial support, including pensions and benefits that are the main source of income for many grandparents raising grandchildren.
Grandparent and other relative carers are eligible for the same family assistance and other payments as parents or foster carers. This includes Family Tax Benefit and Parenting Payment. In addition, grandparent carers can get concession card coverage for their grandchildren via one of a number of different types of concession cards (e.g. the grandparent’s Pensioner Concession Card, or a foster child Health Care Card).
On 15 May 2008 the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family, Housing, Community, and Youth announced a parliamentary inquiry to investigate how carers can be better recognised and supported in their vital role.
Over the course of this year, the Committee will look at the many challenges facing carers and provide recommendations on the practical measures required to better support carers. It will also look at the specific needs of groups within the caring population including new carers, younger carers, older carers, Indigenous carers and those with multiple care responsibilities, including grandparent carers caring for a child with disability.