FOSTER CARE ASSOCIATION OF THE ACT

All foster and kinship carers of children under care and protection orders in the Australian Capital Territory are automatically and without cost, members of the Foster Care Association. This voluntary organisation assists all carers in their challenging roles on behalf of children who are unable to live at home for a period of time.

Assistance to carers may take many forms from working in partnership with Non Government Agencies and the Office For Children Youth and Community Services to formulate policies which enrich children's lives and help them reach their full potentional, to advocating on behalf of individual carers.

The Foster Care Associate has resources such as videos, dvd's and books which may be borrowed as well as the opportunity to attend quality training and conferences as well as social events to connect with other carers.

If you would like more information on either becoming a foster carer in the ACT or on how the FCA ACT can assist you please click here.

The Association is currently working on:

Contact

Contact needs to be of good quality to ensure the best opportunities for prompt family reunification. A new training program is being developed on contact issues. We need feedback from carers on how your training did or didn't prepare you for contact. How are carers feeling about it? Are carers finding it easy or difficult? Do carers need any extra support? What sort of support? Do carers have any good contact examples? Bad contact examples? Do you have any issues you want to have a say on?

Looking After Children Program

LAC — Have you received your training yet? Do you understand what is required of you? Are you having any difficulty on how to fill in the forms? The corner stone of LAC is that carers are an equal partner in the provision of care and the associated decision making processes. Do you feel you are being treated as an equal? If you want to know more about LAC — check out their website.

Contingencies and Financial Support

Contingencies relates to the payment of case specific reimbursements and subsidies. The Department is reviewing its policy on the payment of contingencies at present. The Association has been advised that it will be asked to take part in discussions on the new policy proposal when it is developed. We need input from carers now, so that we can present your views properly.

Training

Joint training can provide opportunities for a wider choice of topics that are of interest or relevance to you. How do you feel about training with carers and/or workers from other agencies? What sort of topics would you like to see covered?