Latest News & Blog

This newsletter is a popular resource which reaches around 1900 foster carer households every issue. We are aware that for some of our carers don’t go online or use social media sites for information and so we are really keen to continue the publication of this printed newsletter. That said, with the burgeoning community of members using our website, blog, facebook page and e-news, we’ve decided to reduce the printed version of our news down to four issues a year on a seasonal basis. So, welcome to our Spring edition of the Foster Care Association newsletter.Read more...

There has been no commitment made by either party in the lead up to the election, to cover the cost deficit faced by home-based carers of Victorian children and young people. The Foster Care Association is urging them to take the opportunity to address the disparity in the carer allowance that means the lowest two levels of basic care are underfunding carers by at least $70 per week, per placement. This is on top of the loss of income earning capacity that comes with meeting the needs of children and young people who’ve experienced trauma, neglect and abuse. On top of this shortfall, reimbursement to carers for expenses on things such as speech therapy can take weeks or even be refused. So often, the carer just pays out of pocket to avoid the children in their care missing out and the stress; many cannot afford to keep doing that.Read more...

Information sourced from Child Protection Manual (updated advice) & Australian Passport Offices- Child Welfare or Protective Agencies – A guide to lodging passport applications.Read more...

7 September – 9 September 2018: Gold Coast, AustraliaRead more...

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Following feedback from carers, the Department of Health and Human Services has been working with members of the Carer Advisory Groups and community service organisations to improve the process to authorise carers to make every day decisions for children in their care.Read more...

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The Foster Care Association received a letter from Minister Mikakos in July 2018 outlining some important advocacy the Department has been making on behalf of carers at a commonwealth level. Read the correspondence here...Read more...

This 2017 /2018 report analyses the Carer Information and Support Service (CISS) data collated throughout the past year, identifying the core issues arising for carers and others within the Home Based Care sector. Read more...

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The budget handed down this morning has failed to improve the financial and bureaucratic conditions which are inhibiting the work and retention of our foster carers. The Foster Care Association of Victoria’s carer data, representing 4,300 foster carers in this state, is still showing a flood of good carers exiting because funding is slow to catch up with the true costs and supports needed to care.  Read more...