Services

• Foster & Kinship Care Service
• Carers
• Foster Carer
• Kinship Carer
• Respite Carer

Foster & Kinship Care Service

Some children and young people cannot live with their families due to risk and issues within the home. There is a need for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to become carers for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children/young people in the child protection system.

Foster & Kinship Carers

Foster & Kinship Carers are committed to ensuring that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people are cared for in a way that respects their culture and assists them to maintain their cultural identity.

There are three (3) types of carers:

Foster Carer

Foster Care is when a carer looks after a child/young person in a Foster Carer’s home and is not related to the child/young person.

Kinship Carer

Kinship Care is provided by a person who is a relative, considered to be family or close friend, or is a member of the child/ren or young person’s community or language group.

Respite Carer

Respite Care is when a carer looks after a child or young person over a short period at planned times.

Referrals

Referrals to Goolburri Aboriginal Health Advancement Foster & Kinship Care Service are made through the relevant Child Safety Service Centres of the Department of Communities – Child Safety and Disability Services.

Goal

The goal of casework with children and young people placed in a Foster & Kinship Care will be towards achieving the most appropriate permanency option, either family reunification or an alternative long-term care option where timely reunification is not possible.

Who Can Be a Carer?

In accordance with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle, Goolburri Aboriginal Health Advancement is committed to ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in care are placed with members of their family, their community of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, or with carers having regard for the general principle that they should be cared for within an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

How Are Carers Supported?

Goolburri Aboriginal Health Advancement Foster & Kinship Care Service, will ensure support through the arrangements of placement, implementation of a Care Plan, and support for Foster & Kinship Carers in meeting emotional, behavioural, and other needs of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people while they are in out-of-home care.

Carers receive an allowance to cover items such as food, clothing, household supplies, gifts, pocket money and entertainment for the children/young people in care. The allowance is not a payment but is a partial contribution towards the direct cost of looking after children/young people with high needs.

Other reimbursements for carers are also available from the Department of Communities (Child Safety), including an additional allowance provided for carers who have children/young people with high needs.

Expression of Interest

Contact our Head Office for further information.

Locations

Contact Details

2 Hodgson Street, Toowoomba Q 4350
Postal Address: PO Box 1198
E: [email protected]
P: 07 4637 9953
F: 07 4632 0548