Kinship carers need to be supported

UnitingCare Burnside is calling on the state Government to recognise the vital role kinship carers play in any restructuring of out-of-home care arrangements.

In particular, UnitingCare Burnside is calling on the NSW government to commit that no children will be worse off as a result of the review of the Supported Carer Allowance currently being undertaken by Community Services.

UnitingCare Burnside’s Director of Social Justice Karen Bevan, ‘Many children and young people are increasingly cared for by relatives or members of their kinship group when they cannot be looked after by their birth parents. In fact, the number of children and young people in kinship care arrangements currently exceeds the number of children in foster care in NSW. That’s why it is essential that kinship carers, especially grandparents are able to access early intervention, family support and out-of-home care services over the coming years.’

In 2009, the NSW Government commissioned a review of the cost of out-of-home care in NSW due to Treasury concerns about the growing cost of care. One of the recommendations of that review was that a systemic review of placements receiving the Supported Care Allowance be undertaken. In January 2010, the implementation of this recommendation, and the deep concerns it evoked amongst children and kinship carers, brought into sharp focus the needs of kinship carers and the complexity of kinship care relationships and placements.

Burnside has consulted with out-of-home care and family support staff and members of the Grandparents as Parents Again (GAPA) support group to identify the advocacy and support needs of kinship carers who access services, particularly grandparent kinship carers. The release of a position paper to outline their findings is a timely reminder of the unique support needs of this crucial carer group.

‘UnitingCare Burnside values and supports kinship care where it is in the children’s best interests. Children and young people in kinship care need stability and certainty. We call on the NSW Government to ensure that no child or young person in kinship care is worse off as a result of the review of the Supported Care Allowance’, Ms Bevan said.

UnitingCare Burnside is launching a position paper entitled, Grandparent Kinship Care in NSW, on Wednesday 26 May between 10:30am and 12:00pm at the Mercure Centro Hotel, Port Macquarie. It details recommendations to improve kinship care in NSW.

To view a copy go to: http://www.burnside.org.au//content/Final%20Position%20Paper%202010%20%28Grandparent%20Kinship%20Care%29%2Epdf.

To contact Karen Bevan call 0400 379 656.

Other media enquiries contact Mark Warren 02 9407 3217 or 0438 294 938.