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Foster care

• About foster and kinship care
  • What is foster care?
  • What is kinship care?
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• Carer training
  • Foster carer training
    • Foreword
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    • Frequently asked questions
    • Orientation
    • Learning outcomes
    • Pre-service training
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• Support for carers
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• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
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  • Foster and Kinship Carer Card contacts
• Library

Frequently asked questions

• Who is involved in the training team for the pre-service training?
• Who can run the orientation workshops?
• Are existing foster carers to be paid for attending training?
• Do pre-service and standard training participants receive a workbook?
• Who pays for the costs in running the new training?
• How do I pay foster carers who are part of the training team?
• How is training recorded?
• Who is responsible for issuing the certificates for the training?
• Will there be changes to the program?

Who is involved in the training team for the pre-service training?

The following team members can be involved in pre-service training:

• Key trainer - has a Certificate IV in Workplace training and Assessment, completed the orientation module (Orientation to Quality care: Foster care training) and experience in running Sharing the care and/or Quality care: Foster care training.
• Co-trainer - completed the orientation module.
• Foster carer - has completed the orientation module and three years experience (where possible).

Other key persons may be involved as guest speakers, for example, child in care, natural parent, family members of a foster carer. These speakers are not required to have completed the training orientation.

Who can run the orientation workshops?

• A key trainer can run the orientation workshops for experienced foster carers and other staff interested in being part of the training team.
• It is recommended that there be local and zonal planning with regards to the running of the orientation workshops involving both departmental and fostering agency staff. This is to ensure that training resources are used effectively and efficiently without duplication.

Are existing foster carers to be paid for attending training?

• No payments will be made for people attending the pre-service training.
• For the standard and advanced training modules, the procedure will be that foster carers can be reimbursed for reasonable costs associated with attending the training, for example, travel, childcare, etc.
• Foster carers will not be paid for their time to attend training. The training should be flexible and accommodate the needs of foster carers.

Do pre-service and standard training participants receive a workbook?

• Key trainers are responsible for producing the materials that participants receive during the course of the training.
• This includes making copies of the presentation slides, handouts, worksheets, personal reflections and learning journals.
• Key trainers are responsible for supplying any binders or folders that could be used by participants.

Who pays for the costs in running the new training?

The child safety service centre or fostering agency and the respective zone will be responsible for meeting the costs of the training, for example, photocopying, payment to the foster carer co-trainer, catering, venue hire, etc.

How do I pay foster carers who are part of the training team?

The key trainer is responsible for the procedure to pay foster carers:

• Foster carer needs to make up an invoice.
• The Statement by supplier form (available from the Australian Tax Office website) needs to be completed by the foster carer. This form only needs to be produced once. It is not required if there are subsequent claims.
• The invoice and the statement by supplier are given to the administration officers in the child safety service centre for processing.
• The foster carer may also be entitled to child care reimbursement (up to ten hours). The foster carer needs to provide a receipt or invoice to the key trainer.

How is training recorded?

• Key trainer must ensure that all relevant documents associated with the administration of pre-service training are completed. This includes the record of attendance form, completed worksheets and copies of certificates, which are to be maintained on the participant's departmental file.
• Key trainer must maintain information in relation to the pre-service and standard training modules delivered, locations and number of participants for zonal planning and monitoring purposes.

Who is responsible for issuing the certificates for the training?

The key trainer is responsible for the issuing of the certificates. The certificate templates are available to download as PDF files. The key trainer can have the certificates printed at the child safety service centre or at a professional printer.

Will there be changes to the program?

Yes. Feedback from the evaluation forms will inform the continuous improvements to the program. Key stakeholders will be informed of these changes.

Further information

For further information about Quality care: Foster care training, contact our Children in Care Team.

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Last updated

3 August 2007