❓ Hon Alanna Clohesy asks the Minister for Child Protection about financial and other support provided to grandparent carers in Western Australia, both as foster carers and as special guardians.
AnsweredQoN 706Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
GRANDCARERS — SUPPORT
706. Hon ALANNA CLOHESY to the Minister
for Child Protection:
I refer to children in care in Western Australia.
(1) What assistance, financial and otherwise, is provided to
grandparent carers?
(2) Does the
Department for Child Protection and Family Support provide ongoing assistance
to grandparents who apply for guardianship orders to care for their
grandchildren; and, if so, what assistance is provided?
706. Hon ALANNA CLOHESY to the Minister
for Child Protection:
I refer to children in care in Western Australia.
(1) What assistance, financial and otherwise, is provided to
grandparent carers?
(2) Does the
Department for Child Protection and Family Support provide ongoing assistance
to grandparents who apply for guardianship orders to care for their
grandchildren; and, if so, what assistance is provided?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice
of the question. This one is a very vexing question. Having been in the
situation myself of caring for my grandchildren for a number of years,
obviously in that time I was not a person who was eligible to receive anything.
(1) If
grandparents are approved foster carers for the Department for Child Protection
and Family Support, they receive a fortnightly subsidy, clothing allowance for
the child and other supports such as training, case support, counselling, and
respite care.
A special-needs loading payment is
also provided for children with high-care needs. Additional special-purpose
funding may also be provided on a case-by-case basis; for example, when vehicle
modifications are required for children with disability.
For children not in the care of the
CEO, the department has introduced a one-off establishment payment of $1 000
for relatives when a safety and wellbeing assessment has been undertaken and a
plan developed with the relatives to allow the child to remain with them. This
payment recognises the initial costs involved in caring for children and the
role of those relatives who take on the care for children who might otherwise
have been taken into care.
(2) Yes.
Special guardians are paid special guardianship payments, which are the same as
those paid to foster carers. Ongoing support is available as needed from
districts to assist grandparents who are special guardians.
of the question. This one is a very vexing question. Having been in the
situation myself of caring for my grandchildren for a number of years,
obviously in that time I was not a person who was eligible to receive anything.
(1) If
grandparents are approved foster carers for the Department for Child Protection
and Family Support, they receive a fortnightly subsidy, clothing allowance for
the child and other supports such as training, case support, counselling, and
respite care.
A special-needs loading payment is
also provided for children with high-care needs. Additional special-purpose
funding may also be provided on a case-by-case basis; for example, when vehicle
modifications are required for children with disability.
For children not in the care of the
CEO, the department has introduced a one-off establishment payment of $1 000
for relatives when a safety and wellbeing assessment has been undertaken and a
plan developed with the relatives to allow the child to remain with them. This
payment recognises the initial costs involved in caring for children and the
role of those relatives who take on the care for children who might otherwise
have been taken into care.
(2) Yes.
Special guardians are paid special guardianship payments, which are the same as
those paid to foster carers. Ongoing support is available as needed from
districts to assist grandparents who are special guardians.
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