The Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) are inviting organisations and individuals with expertise in foster, kinship and permanent carers to submit a written response to discussion questions about payments and financial supports for home-based carers (e.g. foster, kinship and permanent carers/guardians).
These responses will inform recommendations that AIFS makes to the Australian Government Department of Social Services and to the Safe and Supported governance bodies about carer payments and financial supports.
This call for submissions closes on Monday 14 April.
About the project
AIFS have been commissioned by the Australian Government Department of Social Services to undertake a review of foster, kinship and permanent carer payments. This project is an activity under Action 6 in the Safe and Supported: First Action Plan 2023 – 2026. Safe and Supported and the Action Plans were designed (and are being implemented) through a shared decision making approach that includes Australian, state and territory governments, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and leaders and non-government organisations.
The aim of this project is to
provide information to Australian Governments that can be used to improve carer supports, in particular the adequacy, consistency and accessibility of payments for foster, kinship (including grandparent)[1] and permanent carers.
Research and consultation activities
This project includes a range of research and consultation activities. The first step in the project was conducting a review of research and policy literature, including reviewing publicly available information for carers on payments and financial supports. Some of the findings of this review are summarised in this document.
This call for written submissions is the first stage in our national consultations. Consultation activities will also be conducted with:
- foster, kinship and permanent/guardian carers[2]
- state and territory governments
- representatives from relevant peak bodies
- out-of-home care service providers.
About the written submission process
We are seeking the views of organisations and experts who work with carers or have expertise in out-of-home care. This includes:
- carer peak bodies
- out-of-home care service providers
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Organisations
- Key expert stakeholders (e.g., academics working in this field).
You do not need to answer all the discussion questions. We ask that no personal or identifying information is shared through this process.
You don't have to complete your written submission in one sitting - you can save your progress and return to it later to complete your response. To save your response, click the 'Resume later' button at the top right-hand corner of the screen and follow the prompts.
You can download a copy of the discussion paper and questions here.
If you are a carer, you are welcome to make a submission but you may prefer to share your views in an online workshop with other carers. Please contact [email protected] for more information on workshops. If you choose to make a submission, we ask that you don’t include any personal information about you or the children in your care.
All information you provide will be securely stored, in accordance with the Privacy Act 1998 and AIFS Privacy Policy. We will retain your response for 7 years, in accordance with AIFS Records Authority, and if you agree, we may reuse it in other projects to do with out-of-home care and carers.
At the end of the form, there are questions about your organisation, privacy and an option to leave contact details. Some of these questions are required. They help us better understand your responses to the discussion questions and ensure we maintain your privacy in a way that you choose.
