Foster Care Australia Fact-Sheet
September 20, 2008 at 12:25 pm | In Around the Nation, Indigenous issues, Resources | Leave a CommentThis is a useful overview of the context offoster care in Australia including statistics, definitions and other interesting facts.
Alcohol is the elephant in the room
September 17, 2008 at 11:20 am | In Around the Nation, Articles, Child Protection, Issues for Fostering, Media | 1 CommentFollowing up on her appearance on Andrew Denton’s Enough Rope last week, Dorothy Scott has again put forward a strong case for a revamp of the way families are supported. She argues that we need a more holistic approach to prevention, in particular she is concerned about alcohol as a major contributor.
According to Professor Scott alcohol is the biggest single factor that puts children at risk.
One in eight children is in a household where an adult is regularly drunk.
[Alcohol] is responsible for over half of the children in state care being in state care.
And while we’ve given a fair bit of attention to parental drug problems, it’s as if alcohol abuse is the elephant in the room.”
Children left out in the cold
September 16, 2008 at 11:20 am | In Articles, Child Protection, Media | Leave a CommentAn insightful opinion article has appeared in The Age newspaper looking at the needs of vulnerable children in our communities. Written by an economist from the Children’s Protection Society, Dr Alice Hill integrates the needs of individual children developmentally and emotionally, points to holes in the Child Protection system and places this in a context of an economic future.
The examples she has chosen to illustrate her points are generally supportive of our experience.
Below are some particular interesting quotes from the article:
Access to high-quality early years care and education would be — to use the language of the Federal Government — an effective social inclusion mechanism for these marginalised children.
Investing in early childhood education and care for abused and neglected children will build stronger families and communities by giving vulnerable children a better, stronger, start to life. Their future is our future.
DHS in strife over death of young girl
September 8, 2008 at 10:14 am | In Articles, Media | Leave a CommentTags: DHS, girl dies in car crash, Herald Sun
There has been some comment in the papers last week over the death of a young girl who had been in kinship care for two years and had been recently returned to her parents. Her parents, who had been battling drug addiction, were driving a car while she was sitting not properly restrained the back seat. Unfortunately, the article does not address the role of the court system in returning children to their birth family, preferring instead to assign this responsibility solely to DHS. You can read the full article here.
Yarra Ranges Information Sessions
September 6, 2008 at 3:20 pm | In Events, Where can I foster? | Leave a CommentHave your questions answered at one of two information sessions in the Yarra Ranges.
- Tuesday 16th September, 7:30pm: Yarra Junction Public Library, Hoddle St, Yarra Junction
- Thursday 18th September, 7:30pm: Japara Neighbourhood House, 13 Leith Rd, Montrose
There will be staff and current carers there to talk through the programs and how to get involved. For more information call 1300 889 335.
Adolescent Community Placement program
September 4, 2008 at 2:37 pm | In Articles, Stories, Uncategorized | Leave a CommentTags: ACP, Adolescent Community Placement, Teenage foster care
This picture remains the property of the Maroondah Journal
Most people shy away from the idea of fostering teenagers, but this article gives the perspective of an adolescent carer from the ACP program.
In speaking to the Maroondah Journal he said, “I was asked to give a child a second chance at life. How could you say ‘no’ to that?”
“Anyone can do it and you don’t have to be married or have kids. I am single and that is no worries.”
Anyone interested in the ACP program should call 1800 013 088.
See the full article.
Foster Care reimbursement rates
September 3, 2008 at 3:29 pm | In Resources, Supports for Carers | Leave a CommentTags: reimbursement
The foster carer reimbursement rates increased by 2.75 per cent with the predicted CPI growth at the turn of the last financial year.
Recent reports have shown that reimbursement rates are in most states not sufficient, however, they are a help!
Exact figures will be posted on the Office For Children website soon.
Enough Rope 01/09/08
September 2, 2008 at 9:35 am | In Media | 2 CommentsTags: ABC foster care, andrew denton, dorothy scott, enough rope, gary hall, sue mannion
Last night Enough Rope had a terrific segment featuring Andrew Denton speaking with Professor Dorothy Scott and two foster carers, Sue Mannion and Gary Hall, from the ACT and Queensland respectively. It was fantastic publicity for foster care and explored some of the difficulties involved in providing foster care to children and young people who have often had extremely traumatic experiences. You can read the full transcript
here.
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