Foster and kinship care services are responsible for recruiting, training, assessing and supporting carers who have been approved by the department (some foster and kinship care services may also support carers who have been provisionally approved by the department, while those carers are undertaking the formal departmental carer approval process).

Foster and kinship care is provided to a child or young person with moderate to high support needs in a carer's home.Foster and kinship carers should have access to regular and emergency respite, facilitated by the service (some foster and kinship carers are supported directly by the department and not a non-government foster and kinship care service).

Non-government foster and kinship care services are grant funded to provide a Ministerially approved number of places, within a benchmark range.

Departmentally approved foster and kinship carers may be eligible for the Fortnightly Caring Allowance, High Support Needs Allowance and additional child-related costs in accordance with departmental policy.

These allowances and expenses are paid directly by the department to the carer, regardless of whether the carer is supported by a grant funded non-government service provider or the department.

Residential care services are provided by paid employees or contract workers to a child or young person in residential premises. These employees or workers may include rostered or live-in staff.

Residential care usually involves small group care (up to six places) though may also include individual care. Residential care is primarily for young people aged 12-17 years and mainly with complex and extreme support needs, though may also accommodate sibling groups or other young people with moderate to high needs.

Non-government residential care services are grant funded to provide a Ministerially approved number of places within a benchmark range.

Eligible grant funded operating costs include client-related costs.

Specialist foster care services are responsible for recruiting, training, assessing and supporting carers who have been approved by the department (some specialist foster care services may also support carers who have been provisionally approved by the department, while those carers are undertaking the formal departmental carer approval process).

Specialist foster care is provided to a child or young person, with complex to extreme support needs in a carer's home. Carers supported by specialist foster care services should have access to regular and emergency respite, facilitated by the service.

Non-government specialist foster care services are grant funded to provide a Ministerially approved number of places, within a benchmark range.

Departmentally approved foster and kinship carers supported by grant funded non-government service providers may be eligible for the Complex Support Needs Allowance (CSNA) in accordance with departmental policy. CSNA is paid directly to the carer by the grant funded service provider.

Eligible grant funded operating costs include client related costs.

Specialist foster care services may also be funded to employ direct care workers to assist in meeting a child or young person's needs.

Supported independent living services are provided by paid employees or contract workers to a child or young person in residential premises. These employees or workers do not usually live at the premises or provide overnight care but provide external support through regular visiting.

Supported independent living is usually for young people aged 15-17 years with moderate to high support needs who are transitioning to independent living. Supported independent living may involve small group or individual care.

Non-government supported independent living services are grant funded to provide a Ministerially approved number of places within a benchmark range.

Eligible grant funded operating costs include client-related costs.