Pat on the back for Queensland’s foster carers

Child Safety Minister Desley Boyle has praised Queensland’s foster carers for the terrific work they are doing - with some carers looking after more than five abused or neglected children.

“Our latest figures show that while most of our carers are looking after one child, 110 carers are looking after more than five kids,” Ms Boyle said.

At 31 December 2006, there were 2693 foster carers in Queensland with children placed with them. Of these:

• 1250 (46.4 per cent) were caring for one child;
• 693 (25.7 per cent) for two children;
• 357 (13.3 per cent) for three children;
• 181 (6.7 per cent) for four children;
• 102 (3.8 per cent) for five children and;
• 110 (4.1 per cent ) for more than five children.

Ms Boyle said: “Many of the foster carers with a large number of children have taken on brothers and sisters from the same family.

“I congratulate them for that. When a foster carer agrees to take on siblings they are helping the children enormously.

“It is stressful enough being taken into care but when siblings are separated it adds to the stress. Brothers and sisters are much happier when they’re kept together.

“I wish I could say that keeping siblings together is the only reason that some carers have what seems a heavy load.

“Sometimes carers agree to take on extra kids because we are short of foster carers in their area.

“That’s why we are constantly appealing for more people to become carers.

“Of course there are some very special people who thrive on having a busy house full of children,” Ms Boyle said.

Foster Care Queensland President Bryan Smith agreed on the importance of keeping siblings together.

“We are proud of the work foster carers do to keep brothers and sisters under the same roof – we know how beneficial that is.

“In the past few years there have been enormous improvements in the support the Department provides to carers with large sibling groups.

“While we are always looking for further improvements, on the whole, foster carers are supported very well,” Mr Smith said.

Ms Boyle also released statistics on the number of children who exited care during 2006.

Last year, 1553 children exited care after spending an average of 10 months in care. Of those:

• 777 spent less than one year in care;
• 331 spent one to two years;
• 285 spent two to five years and;
• 160 spent more than five years in care.

Ms Boyle appealed to people to consider becoming a foster carer.

“We provide training, an after-hours telephone helpline and fortnightly allowances to cover the child’s costs,” Ms Boyle said.

Allowances are tax free and range from $370-$434 (depending on the age of the child) for every child in care.

To become a foster carer, phone: 1300 550 877.

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