Financial support
Financial support for carers includes:
Carer allowance
Foster and kinship carers receive a fortnightly caring allowance, which is a contribution toward the costs of caring for the child or young person placed with them. It covers items such as:
- food, clothing, household provisions,
- gifts, pocket money, entertainment
- other everyday costs of caring for a child.
Support carers receive the allowance in proportion to the amount of time they provide care for a child or young person.
- The allowance is not considered a payment for caring and it is not a source of income.
- It is a reimbursement toward the real costs of providing care.
The fortnightly caring allowance is not subject to tax and should not be cited as income for any purpose, such as yearly tax returns, applications for Federal Government allowances and benefits, or when applying for loans from financial institutions.
| Carer payments (as at January 2009*) |
Frequency of payment | 0 - 5 years | 6 - 10 years | 11+ years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fortnightly caring allowance | fortnightly | $401.91 | $432.98 | $470.67 |
| Start-up allowance | one-off | $86.60 | $86.60 | $86.60 |
| Establishment payment | one-off | $432.98 | $432.98 | $432.98 |
| High support needs allowance | fortnightly | $144.00 | $144.00 | $144.00 |
| Regional remote loading (10 per cent) | fortnightly | $40.19 | $43.30 | $47.07 |
* All payments and allowances are indexed in January each year in line with the consumer price index (CPI).
Foster and Kinship Carer Card
Approved foster carers and kinship carers are also eligible to receive the Foster and Kinship Carer Card. This card assists carers in their day-to-day caring duties by providing easy identification to government agencies and hospitals.
The card also provides access to a range of discounts from participating businesses and retail outlets for foster and kinship carers, and children and young people in their care.
A full listing of discounts is available in the Foster and Kinship Carer Card Business Discount Directory.
Other financial support
In addition to the foster and kinship care allowance, financial support is available at the start of a child or young person's placement with a carer, when costs are likely to be high.
- A one-off start-up allowance is provided to carers when a child stays in a placement for five consecutive nights or more.
- Carers also receive a one-off establishment payment when a child or young person comes onto a finalised Child Protection Order. An additional allowance is provided to carers if the child is assessed as having high support needs.
- Assistance may also be available to carers for reimbursement of substantial additional costs when they form part of the case plan for the child or young person in care.
It is important that these costs are approved by the manager of your child safety service centre before you purchase goods or services.
- Last updated
- 13 January 2009