❓ Hon Stephen Dawson questions the Minister for Child Protection regarding the discontinuation of Kidz Zone camps and respite care for foster children, seeking clarification on funding, reasons for program cuts, and alternative support strategies. The Minister's response details funding allocations, rationale for ending the program, and ongoing respite provisions.
AnsweredQoN 4210Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to Kidz Zone camps and respite for foster care, and I ask: (a) can the Minister confirm that the last Kidz Zone camp will take place in June 2016; (b) in regards to Kidz Zone camps, can the Minister advise: (i) what service summary area was Kidz Zone camps funded from; (ii) what was the value of funding spent on Kidz Zone camps in 2014-15 and 2015-16; and (iii) why was the decision made to cut this program; (c) how many respite hours were available to carers for each foster child, in each of the following periods: (i) 2015-16; (ii) 2014-15; and (iii) 2013-14; (d) how many respite days will carers be able to access in the 2016-17 financial year; and (e) information from the department states, “These camps primary aim is to allow our carers (general and relative) to enjoy a well-earned break knowing that the kids they care for are being well looked after. These camps also give us the opportunity to provide the kids we accept onto the camp the chance to learn and grow as well as have some fun in a supported camp environment.” How will the outcomes of this program to foster carers and children in care now be delivered by the department?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
8 September 2016
Responded by
Minister for Planning representing the Minister for Child Protection
Response time
70 days
a) As per the information provided to Parliament in question on notice 3829, the last Kidz Zone camp took place in May 2016
b) (i) Service 9: Care arrangements for children in the Chief Executive Officer’s care.
(ii) Kid'zone camps were funded $184,762 in 2014-15 and $188,272 in 2015-16.
(iii) As part of the Department for Child Protection and Family Support’s (the Department’s) out-of-home care reform and functional review of its Fostering and Adoptions Services (FAS); the Department resolved not to continue to operate camps in this contracted format. The Department funded Scripture Union to run the Kidz Zone camps on an annual basis.
The contract with Scripture Union ceased on 30 June 2016. At the final camp held in May this year, Department staff and Scripture Union staff and volunteers gathered at Keith Maine to farewell the eight year partnership.
Most of the Kidz Zone camps have largely been held in the metropolitan area with regional children in care and carers not being able to access these camps. Through the Out-of-Home-Care Reforms the Department will consider opportunities to reinvest funding with existing programs operated through other government and community services agencies, where support to more children in care and carers across the State can be accessed.
c) Foster carers approved by the Department are entitled to five days of respite per month per child in their care (without interruption to the caring allowance). This has remained consistent throughout 2013 to 2016.
d) There are no planned changes to the number of respite days that carers are entitled to access in 2016 – 2017. The Department will be reviewing its respite policy to look at other forms of support that better meet the needs of each child while still providing the carer with a break. Formal over-night respite options will remain an important and available strategy to support care arrangements. The Department will move away from using the term ‘respite’ in favour of the term ‘short-break support’.
e) Refer to b(iii).
b) (i) Service 9: Care arrangements for children in the Chief Executive Officer’s care.
(ii) Kid'zone camps were funded $184,762 in 2014-15 and $188,272 in 2015-16.
(iii) As part of the Department for Child Protection and Family Support’s (the Department’s) out-of-home care reform and functional review of its Fostering and Adoptions Services (FAS); the Department resolved not to continue to operate camps in this contracted format. The Department funded Scripture Union to run the Kidz Zone camps on an annual basis.
The contract with Scripture Union ceased on 30 June 2016. At the final camp held in May this year, Department staff and Scripture Union staff and volunteers gathered at Keith Maine to farewell the eight year partnership.
Most of the Kidz Zone camps have largely been held in the metropolitan area with regional children in care and carers not being able to access these camps. Through the Out-of-Home-Care Reforms the Department will consider opportunities to reinvest funding with existing programs operated through other government and community services agencies, where support to more children in care and carers across the State can be accessed.
c) Foster carers approved by the Department are entitled to five days of respite per month per child in their care (without interruption to the caring allowance). This has remained consistent throughout 2013 to 2016.
d) There are no planned changes to the number of respite days that carers are entitled to access in 2016 – 2017. The Department will be reviewing its respite policy to look at other forms of support that better meet the needs of each child while still providing the carer with a break. Formal over-night respite options will remain an important and available strategy to support care arrangements. The Department will move away from using the term ‘respite’ in favour of the term ‘short-break support’.
e) Refer to b(iii).
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