$15 million to meet childcare costs for hardworking foster carers

The Palaszczuk Government will attract more working Queenslanders to take on the invaluable job of fostering, after pledging to help pay for childcare and kindy.

 The $15 million funding boost will see more working families sign up as foster carers, by helping to cover the out-of-pocket childcare expenses for children aged one to five-years-old.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the money would be spent over the next four years to support carers who have already opened their homes and hearts to some of Queensland’s most vulnerable children and young people.

She said the boost will be a game-changer for vulnerable kids in Queensland, and hopes it will encourage more people to play their part.

“This is the first time the Queensland Government has committed to helping pay the out-of-pocket costs involved with childcare for our children in foster and kinship care,” she said.

“We have more than 5000 foster and kinship carers right here in Queensland, but we need more people like you to help provide a safe home for children who can no longer live with their family.

“I am determined to do everything I can to attract more people and I hope this funding commitment makes the decision to become a foster carer an easier one to make.”

Child Safety Minister Shannon Fentiman said one of the highlights of her job was meeting with dedicated and hard-working foster and kinship carers.

“What they have been telling me is that the cost of childcare is not only a strain on them, but it is also a barrier that prevents more people from opening their homes,” she said.

“We are always looking for more people who want to play a part in keeping Queensland’s children and young people safe and supported so they can reach their full potential.

“By contributing up to $2000 per year towards out-of-pocket childcare expenses we hope more working families will come on board to help give our vulnerable kids the bright future they deserve.

“Given so many families have to work, this radical new move will help us attract more Queenslanders to sign on as carers and keep our vulnerable kids safe.”

Foster Care Queensland Executive Director Bryan Smith said this was great news for foster and kinship carers.

“We have been lobbying for this for many, many years,” he said.

“Covering some of the out-of-pocket child care costs will ease the pressure on our foster and kinship carers.

The $15 million funding boost coincides with a $2.6 million campaign to recruit more foster carers over the next four years.

The out-of-pocket payments for carers start on July 1 2017.

For more information about being a foster or kinship carer call 1300 550 877 or go to link https://www.qld.gov.au/community/caring-child/foster-kinship-care-how-to-become-a-carer/

Media contacts:

Kirby Anderson (Premier’s office) 0417 263 791

Brooke Baskin (Minister’s office)0400 774 303