❓ Ms. Baker asks about the support provided to foster, grandcarers, and special guardian carers under the McGowan government's COVID-19 recovery plan. The Minister outlines a $3.7 million assistance package and acknowledges the challenges faced by carers during the pandemic.
AnsweredQoN 683Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS —
CARERS — ASSISTANCE PACKAGE
683. Ms
L.L. BAKER to the Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's $5.5 billion recovery plan, which includes support for
households under financial stress through COVID-19. Can the minister outline to
the house how this government is supporting foster carers, grandcarers and
special guardian carers in the critical work that they are doing during what
has been an extraordinarily challenging time?
CARERS — ASSISTANCE PACKAGE
683. Ms
L.L. BAKER to the Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's $5.5 billion recovery plan, which includes support for
households under financial stress through COVID-19. Can the minister outline to
the house how this government is supporting foster carers, grandcarers and
special guardian carers in the critical work that they are doing during what
has been an extraordinarily challenging time?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
It is a great privilege of my position, and I know that other members of this
house have had the opportunity, too, to meet carers in our electorates in our
time as representatives of our communities. It really is amazing how carers
step up, whether they are foster carers, family carers, special guardian carers
or, of course, grandcarers as well. I know that many of us have had
interactions with grandcarers in our communities or have support groups that
operate in our electorates.
I was very pleased to announce that
the McGowan government has committed $3.7 million so that those carers can have
some assistance during the difficult time of COVID. That particular package
provides $500 for the first child in their care and $250 for each additional
child in their household. Foster carers and family carers, who are managed by
the Department of Communities, and special guardianship carers and grandcarers,
who are managed by community sector organisations, stepped up when vulnerable
children in their care were kept home from school to prevent the spread of
COVID.
Additionally, there were other
challenges. Contact visits that were taking place with broader family members
were interrupted during the initial lockdown period in March and April, so
people had to get on Zoom and have that contact electronically. It was
difficult for some older carers, but it was also difficult to explain to young
children what was going on and keep them supported. As I said, I heard of many
examples of it being a challenging time for those carers and the young people
they care for, but they absolutely stepped up. Additionally, older people who are carers in the foster-care system, particularly
grandcarers and family carers, are in high-risk categories themselves, so they
had that extra layer of tension. I am very pleased that we have been able to
roll out those additional payments.
Two weeks ago, during National Child Protection Week, we had
an event in Cannington at the district office of the Department of Communities
to acknowledge a number of foster carers who had clocked up over 25 years of
caring for foster children on either a temporary or long-term basis. It was
incredible. Between those carers—there were nine households—they
had cared for over 1 000 children and had clocked up over 320 years of caring
for children in the system. It is amazing. Many members would know that one of
those carers is Mr Colin Murphy and his wife. There were some amazing stories
told of seeing children go off to university or walk down the aisle at their
weddings—children who today, as fully grown adults, still call those
carers ''mum and dad''. It was really very heartening. They are
the absolute heroes of our state. I am confident that by providing these carers
with the right supports at the right time and for the right reasons, we will
bring about the best outcomes for children.
It is a great privilege of my position, and I know that other members of this
house have had the opportunity, too, to meet carers in our electorates in our
time as representatives of our communities. It really is amazing how carers
step up, whether they are foster carers, family carers, special guardian carers
or, of course, grandcarers as well. I know that many of us have had
interactions with grandcarers in our communities or have support groups that
operate in our electorates.
I was very pleased to announce that
the McGowan government has committed $3.7 million so that those carers can have
some assistance during the difficult time of COVID. That particular package
provides $500 for the first child in their care and $250 for each additional
child in their household. Foster carers and family carers, who are managed by
the Department of Communities, and special guardianship carers and grandcarers,
who are managed by community sector organisations, stepped up when vulnerable
children in their care were kept home from school to prevent the spread of
COVID.
Additionally, there were other
challenges. Contact visits that were taking place with broader family members
were interrupted during the initial lockdown period in March and April, so
people had to get on Zoom and have that contact electronically. It was
difficult for some older carers, but it was also difficult to explain to young
children what was going on and keep them supported. As I said, I heard of many
examples of it being a challenging time for those carers and the young people
they care for, but they absolutely stepped up. Additionally, older people who are carers in the foster-care system, particularly
grandcarers and family carers, are in high-risk categories themselves, so they
had that extra layer of tension. I am very pleased that we have been able to
roll out those additional payments.
Two weeks ago, during National Child Protection Week, we had
an event in Cannington at the district office of the Department of Communities
to acknowledge a number of foster carers who had clocked up over 25 years of
caring for foster children on either a temporary or long-term basis. It was
incredible. Between those carers—there were nine households—they
had cared for over 1 000 children and had clocked up over 320 years of caring
for children in the system. It is amazing. Many members would know that one of
those carers is Mr Colin Murphy and his wife. There were some amazing stories
told of seeing children go off to university or walk down the aisle at their
weddings—children who today, as fully grown adults, still call those
carers ''mum and dad''. It was really very heartening. They are
the absolute heroes of our state. I am confident that by providing these carers
with the right supports at the right time and for the right reasons, we will
bring about the best outcomes for children.
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