Disability Respite « Foster Care Victoria

Disability Respite

May 14, 2008 at 12:33 pm | In About Fostering, Around the Nation, Articles, Child Protection, Issues for Fostering, Media | 3 Comments
Tags: disability, DOCS, Four Corners, In My Shoes

Major components of disability programs for foster care are respite care and support through “Friends”. On Monday night Four Corners aired a program called “In My Shoes”, a very confronting perspective of why disability supports such as these are necessary for families struggling to cope with the 24hour needs of children with Disabilities. Although I highly recommend the program or even just a read of the transcript for an insight into challenges faced, there seem to be some inaccuracies in the representation of supports such as respite care which are available.

I would also like to relate some of the statements made by the program to the Victorian context (I don’t know enough about the specifics in other states to comment more broadly).

This program interviewed Sharon Guest and Stuart Neale, caring for their severely disabled daughter, Jessie, who said that the only choices offered to them was to continue caring without support or relinquish their child to Child Protection (in NSW, DOCs). DOCs has actually responded to these statements and other ambigous claims, which was actually a relief to read since the allegations are really out of sink with what I know to be the case here in Victoria. Its a shame that these points couldn’t be cleared up before the program went to air.

The organisation I work for offers families of children with disabilities Respite Care or “Shared Family Care”. For example, a child might live with a foster carer during the week, and at home on the weekends. These kinds of options are negotiated with the family according to their needs and the ability we have to meet them. These are what we call Voluntary Placements and can be ended any time by the family.

The Disability Program supports children and young people up to the age of 18 and beyond in this type of Home Based Care.

I also would like to mention that the majority of children supported by the Disability Program have Intellectual Disabilities, such as developmental delays or autism, rather than the common perception of disability as automatically associated with wheel-chairs. Like all programs though, the Disability Program is chronically short of carers which makes finding ideal placements sometimes very difficult.

Happily, it seems that some amendments in this year’s Federal Budget are pleasing carer groups and families, which is great news for families.

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Just to add to Jess’ comments here, I’d like to say that there is a great need for families, at least in the area in which we work, for people who are able to provide respite to children and young people with a disability or developmental delay.

If you believe you could provide this form of care, please contact one of the agencies listed in the ‘Where Can I Foster’ list. Agencies I am aware of who have Disability (Foster Care)programs are Anglicare, Oz Child, Interchange and Yooralla.

Comment by Josh — May 21, 2008 #

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Somehow i missed the point. Probably lost in translation Anyway … nice blog to visit.

cheers, Halting.

Comment by Halting — June 19, 2008 #

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Haha lost in translation isn’t good enough, so I will try and remedy the situation.

Respite is often used as a support to parents of a child with a disability or often several disabilities. Many of these children require constant supervision even into adulthood, may require constant medical or personal care, or may struggle to interact appropriately with other children or adults. Therefore it can be very difficult to care for this child on a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week basis without becoming very stressed and burnt-out.

Disability respite care aims to assist parents and families in maintaining care for the child/ren, while letting them have some time every month to recharge their batteries, maintain their homes and spend time with their other children and/or each other.

I hope this helps a little…

Comment by Josh — June 20, 2008 #

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