MORE MONEY FOR QUEENSLAND FOSTER CARERS
Published Tuesday, 24 October, 2006 at 12:59 PM
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
State Cabinet has approved increases of up to $100 a fortnight in the allowances paid to Queensland’s foster carers.
From 1 January 2007 foster carers will receive between $370 and $434 a fortnight for each child in their care.
Premier Peter Beattie said foster carers deserve the boost in payments which will cost an extra $9 million a year.
“We owe these people a great debt. They take in and care for our vulnerable children and young people,” Mr Beattie said.
“They provide immense support and compassion to children at a very difficult time in their young lives.
“Our carers give up significant time and we’d be lost without them.
“As a Government we are committed to making sure foster carers receive the support they need.”
The new fortnightly allowances, which are tax free, will apply from 1 January 2007.
Carers receive differing amounts depending on the age of the child. The new fortnightly allowances are:
• Children up to one year: $370.61 (an increase of $107.48)
• Children 2 to 5: $370.61 (an increase of $93.17)
• Children 6 to 10: $399.26 (an increase of $74.79)
• Children 11 to 15: $434.02 (an increase of $40.15)
• Children 16 and over: $434.02 (an increase of $61.54).
Carers in remote locations receive a 10% loading on top of these figures.
Child Safety Minister Desley Boyle said the new payment system is the result of an independent review of the true cost of caring and was one recommended by the CMC.
“It takes a special kind of person to be a carer. Our 3000 carers deserve improvements and not only are they getting increased payments but the system will be a lot simpler to use,” Ms Boyle said.
“Previously carers would have to apply to be paid for small outlays that add up like lice treatment or school excursions.
“These costs are now built in to the increases removing a lot of paper work.
“For the first time carer payments will also be increased every January according to CPI increases.”
Other improvements include:
• One-off establishment payments (paid when a child goes into care for the first time) increase from $375.00 to $399.26 and will be indexed annually
• Start up payments (paid when a child previously in care goes to different foster carers for more then five days) will go from $60.00 to $79.85, also indexed annually.
• The 10% regional remote loading for foster carers has been expanded to include all aboriginal councils and will now also apply to Yarrabah, Palm Island, and Cherbourg.
Of a Departmental budget exceeding half a billion dollars more than half goes to community partners to support children in care
Other assistance to foster carers includes training, support and advice and a mentoring program is planned in the near future.
Foster carers who look after children with special needs such as disabilities receive additional financial support.
Foster Care Queensland President Bryan Smith welcomed the new deal for foster carers.
“The increased allowances and the removal of red tape will remove an enormous amount of stress from foster carers.
“Linking allowances to annual CPI increases also gives carers more certainty that allowances will keep up with cost-of-living increases,” Mr Smith said.
Ms Boyle said cabinet also approved reviews of the Government’s policies on family reunification, permanency planning and the confidentiality provisions of the Child Protection Act.
24 October, 2006
Contact: Premiers Office 3224 4500
Office of the Minister for Child Safety 3224 7081
From 1 January 2007 foster carers will receive between $370 and $434 a fortnight for each child in their care.
Premier Peter Beattie said foster carers deserve the boost in payments which will cost an extra $9 million a year.
“We owe these people a great debt. They take in and care for our vulnerable children and young people,” Mr Beattie said.
“They provide immense support and compassion to children at a very difficult time in their young lives.
“Our carers give up significant time and we’d be lost without them.
“As a Government we are committed to making sure foster carers receive the support they need.”
The new fortnightly allowances, which are tax free, will apply from 1 January 2007.
Carers receive differing amounts depending on the age of the child. The new fortnightly allowances are:
• Children up to one year: $370.61 (an increase of $107.48)
• Children 2 to 5: $370.61 (an increase of $93.17)
• Children 6 to 10: $399.26 (an increase of $74.79)
• Children 11 to 15: $434.02 (an increase of $40.15)
• Children 16 and over: $434.02 (an increase of $61.54).
Carers in remote locations receive a 10% loading on top of these figures.
Child Safety Minister Desley Boyle said the new payment system is the result of an independent review of the true cost of caring and was one recommended by the CMC.
“It takes a special kind of person to be a carer. Our 3000 carers deserve improvements and not only are they getting increased payments but the system will be a lot simpler to use,” Ms Boyle said.
“Previously carers would have to apply to be paid for small outlays that add up like lice treatment or school excursions.
“These costs are now built in to the increases removing a lot of paper work.
“For the first time carer payments will also be increased every January according to CPI increases.”
Other improvements include:
• One-off establishment payments (paid when a child goes into care for the first time) increase from $375.00 to $399.26 and will be indexed annually
• Start up payments (paid when a child previously in care goes to different foster carers for more then five days) will go from $60.00 to $79.85, also indexed annually.
• The 10% regional remote loading for foster carers has been expanded to include all aboriginal councils and will now also apply to Yarrabah, Palm Island, and Cherbourg.
Of a Departmental budget exceeding half a billion dollars more than half goes to community partners to support children in care
Other assistance to foster carers includes training, support and advice and a mentoring program is planned in the near future.
Foster carers who look after children with special needs such as disabilities receive additional financial support.
Foster Care Queensland President Bryan Smith welcomed the new deal for foster carers.
“The increased allowances and the removal of red tape will remove an enormous amount of stress from foster carers.
“Linking allowances to annual CPI increases also gives carers more certainty that allowances will keep up with cost-of-living increases,” Mr Smith said.
Ms Boyle said cabinet also approved reviews of the Government’s policies on family reunification, permanency planning and the confidentiality provisions of the Child Protection Act.
24 October, 2006
Contact: Premiers Office 3224 4500
Office of the Minister for Child Safety 3224 7081