The ACT Government is developing a Charter for Carers involved with ACT child protection services to ensure they receive the same level of recognition and support as parents, families, and children within the ACT child protection system.

“Kinship and foster carers provide vital care and support to some of Canberra’s most vulnerable children and young people,” Rachel Stephen-Smith, ACT Minister for Children, Youth and Family Services, said.

Nationally, eight in every thousand children are in out-of-home care (OOHC), and 13 in every thousand Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

“The OOHC system could not function without foster and kinship carers putting their hand up to care for children, even if only until restoration can occur,” Lisa Kelly, CEO of Carers ACT said.

Carers ACT advocates for the rights of foster and kinship carers in the ACT to ensure they receive the support and recognition they deserve to keep providing care for children who need it.

The draft Charter for Carers builds on the Charter for Parents and Families involved with ACT child protection services, but focuses on the expectations and responsibilities unique to carers.

“Being a foster or kinship carer is a profoundly emotional journey,” Ms Kelly said.

“Carers face the important task of forming relationships with children who have experienced neglect or abuse while facilitating visitations and restoration efforts and knowing that the child might return to their biological parents at any stage. These children are often traumatised or experiencing the impacts of abuse and neglect, such as mental ill health or violent outbursts. Carers must balance putting the best interest of the child first while keeping themselves and other children in their family safe, all while navigating complex reportable conduct systems.

“Being a foster or kinship carer is also often an isolating experience; the unique challenges of managing a child’s trauma and navigating often bureaucratic systems is time-consuming and often misunderstood by their families and the community. Carers are also more likely to be older women, adjusting to raising young children again while finding themselves disconnected from their retired peers, but unable to relate to younger parents.

“We know child protection workers are under immense pressure, often short-staffed, and dealing with high-stakes cases and as a result, carers are often at the bottom of the priority list as workers respond to the most urgent situations first. This leaves carers unsupported and frustrated because their requests for information or support often go unanswered.”

The charter aligns with the Government’s obligations and commitments under the Carer Recognition Act 2021.

The two charters, and the Charter of Rights for Kids in Care, will be registered as notifiable instruments later this year.

The Community Services Directorate developed the Charter for Carers based on engagement with kinship and foster carers, advocates, and representative organisations.

“Carers ACT has been advocating for a charter to empower foster and kinship carers with clear rights and expectations when they interact with ACT Child Protection Services,” Ms Kelly said. 

“We want the charter to bring respect and dignity to the forefront of every interaction and set out the practical ways carers can expect workers to uphold the Carers Recognition Act 2021. We don’t want the charter to just be about feel-good words on paper.

“A charter of rights would provide much-needed clarity for carers. It would set clear expectations for communication and respect, ensuring that carers are treated as valued partners in the child protection process. Embedding the Carers Recognition Act 2021 into the charter also empowers carers to understand and advocate for their existing legislated rights more effectively. Ultimately, a charter will help ensure that carers receive the recognition and support they deserve, making their role in providing stable, loving homes to children in the ACT more sustainable.”

To provide feedback, visit the YourSay consultation page at https://yoursayconversations.act.gov.au/charter-carers-involved-act-child-protection-services.

“It is important that carers are a part of the decision-making process, so we are encouraging kinship and foster carers and any other interested parties to share their feedback, to ensure the draft Charter for Carers resonates with those it has been developed to support and empower,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.

“Kinship and Foster carers play a critical role in our child protection system, helping to keep children and young people safe and connected and helping them to live their best lives. The Charter is just part of our work to make the system fairer, more accountable, and more transparent for everyone involved.”

The ACT Government aims to build trust and transparency across the child protection system under Next Steps for Our Kids 2022-2030 – the ACT Strategy for strengthening families and keeping children and young people safe, Ms Stephen-Smith said.