❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses the underutilisation and reassessment of approved long-term and short-term foster carer households, seeking detailed information on carer support, placement statistics, and departmental processes. The answer reveals a lack of specific timeframes for reassessment and limited placement activity.
AnsweredQoN 528Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to answer 6(a) of Questions Prior to Hearings for the Child Protection Budget Estimates 2025-26, which confirmed there are 175 carer households approved for long-term placements that did not have a child placed with them for even a single day in 2024-25, and I ask: (a) will the Minister provide a breakdown of those carers by child protection district; (b) what division in the Department reassesses those carer households for suitability after having had no child for 12 months; (c) in reference to (b), how long is the reassessment process; (d) in reference to (b), what criteria are considered in that reassessment; (e) how many of the 175 households have since been allocated a child, and in what type of placement; (f) have any carer approvals been cancelled or lapsed after remaining unused during 2024-25; (g) what support services were offered to these 175 households during 2024-25 to retain their availability; (h) how many carers are currently approved for short term care; (i) of those in (h), how many didn’t have a child placed with them for even a single day in 2024-25; and (j) further to (i), will the Minister provide a breakdown of numbers by child protection district?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 October 2025
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food representing the Minister for Child Protection
Response time
6 days
The Department of Communities advises:
(a) No.
(b) The Child Protection District or the specific Community Sector Agency managing the Community Foster Carer is responsible for reassessment.
(c) There is no specific time frame for how long the reassessment process is.
(d) All carers are required to meet the criteria outlined in the Children and Community Services Regulations 2006 , specifically Regulation 4(1).
(e) As at 17 September 2025, two carers have children currently placed, and a further seven have had a child placed between 1 July and 17 September 2025.
(f) Yes. There have been 19 carer households who have withdrawn or are inactive.
(g) Where a carer or the Department of Communities identifies a need for support, tailored services and supports are able to be provided based on the individual needs of the carer. Supports are also available through the Foster Care Association of Western Australia (FCAWA), OurSPACE, (via the Australian Childhood Foundation), Family Care Support Services and Communities Fostering Connections service. During the assessment process carers are made aware of the different avenues they may wish to seek support from. Information about supports available to foster carers is also available on the WA.gov.au website.
(h) Of the 175 approved carer households, 115 of these also provide short term care arrangements.
(i) All 115 approved carer households have not had a child placed during 2024-25.
(j) No.
(a) No.
(b) The Child Protection District or the specific Community Sector Agency managing the Community Foster Carer is responsible for reassessment.
(c) There is no specific time frame for how long the reassessment process is.
(d) All carers are required to meet the criteria outlined in the Children and Community Services Regulations 2006 , specifically Regulation 4(1).
(e) As at 17 September 2025, two carers have children currently placed, and a further seven have had a child placed between 1 July and 17 September 2025.
(f) Yes. There have been 19 carer households who have withdrawn or are inactive.
(g) Where a carer or the Department of Communities identifies a need for support, tailored services and supports are able to be provided based on the individual needs of the carer. Supports are also available through the Foster Care Association of Western Australia (FCAWA), OurSPACE, (via the Australian Childhood Foundation), Family Care Support Services and Communities Fostering Connections service. During the assessment process carers are made aware of the different avenues they may wish to seek support from. Information about supports available to foster carers is also available on the WA.gov.au website.
(h) Of the 175 approved carer households, 115 of these also provide short term care arrangements.
(i) All 115 approved carer households have not had a child placed during 2024-25.
(j) No.
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