Published Tuesday, 05 June, 2007 at 03:34 PM
Minister for Child Safety
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Budget supports foster and kinship carers
Foster and Kinship care funding has been boosted by $3 million in the 2007-2008 budget bringing the total funding of $70 million going to support their important work caring for abused and neglected children.
Child Safety Minister Desley Boyle said foster carers were the backbone of child protection and it was important the Government supported them.
“Queensland has more than 3000 foster and kinship carers who step in when children do not have parents able or willing to provide them with a safe home,” Ms Boyle said.
“They play an important role in helping children to heal, by showing them love and patience and making them part of their families.”
The 2007-08 Budget includes:
• $65.2 million in allowances for foster carers to help cover the costs of caring for children and;
• A further $4.03 million for foster carers as high support needs allowances to help them care for children with disabilities or significant behavioural problems.
“This money will cover the new, increased allowances that came into effect earlier this year,” Ms Boyle said.
In 2004, the government increased the foster care allowance by $40 per fortnight and this year allowances increased again by $40-$107. Allowances, which are tax-free, now range from $370.61-$434.02 per fortnight depending on the age of the child and will be increased every January in line with the consumer price index.
Carers in remote locations receive a 10 per cent loading on top of these figures.
The funding also covers:
• One-off establishment payments of $399.26 (paid when a child goes into care for the first time) also increased each January in line with the consumer price index;
• Start up payments of $79.85 (paid when a child previously in care goes to different foster carers for more then five days) also increased each January in line with the consumer price index and;
• The extension of the 10 per cent regional remote loading for foster carers to Yarrabah, Palm Island and Cherbourg – so it now covers all Aboriginal council areas.
“Whenever possible, Indigenous children are placed with Indigenous carers but there just aren’t enough of them.
At 31 December 2006 there were 6773 children in care of which 1785 were Indigenous. There were 542 Indigenous foster and kinship carers.
Ends
Media contact: 3224 7477
5 June 2007
Child Safety Minister Desley Boyle said foster carers were the backbone of child protection and it was important the Government supported them.
“Queensland has more than 3000 foster and kinship carers who step in when children do not have parents able or willing to provide them with a safe home,” Ms Boyle said.
“They play an important role in helping children to heal, by showing them love and patience and making them part of their families.”
The 2007-08 Budget includes:
• $65.2 million in allowances for foster carers to help cover the costs of caring for children and;
• A further $4.03 million for foster carers as high support needs allowances to help them care for children with disabilities or significant behavioural problems.
“This money will cover the new, increased allowances that came into effect earlier this year,” Ms Boyle said.
In 2004, the government increased the foster care allowance by $40 per fortnight and this year allowances increased again by $40-$107. Allowances, which are tax-free, now range from $370.61-$434.02 per fortnight depending on the age of the child and will be increased every January in line with the consumer price index.
Carers in remote locations receive a 10 per cent loading on top of these figures.
The funding also covers:
• One-off establishment payments of $399.26 (paid when a child goes into care for the first time) also increased each January in line with the consumer price index;
• Start up payments of $79.85 (paid when a child previously in care goes to different foster carers for more then five days) also increased each January in line with the consumer price index and;
• The extension of the 10 per cent regional remote loading for foster carers to Yarrabah, Palm Island and Cherbourg – so it now covers all Aboriginal council areas.
“Whenever possible, Indigenous children are placed with Indigenous carers but there just aren’t enough of them.
At 31 December 2006 there were 6773 children in care of which 1785 were Indigenous. There were 542 Indigenous foster and kinship carers.
Ends
Media contact: 3224 7477
5 June 2007