Lyla Lindsey
Permanent child care in Australia is a system where children who cannot live with their birth parents are placed with approved permanent carers. This is not a voluntary placement and is different from foster care, which is temporary. The decision to place a child in permanent care is made by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) or a community service organisation, in conjunction with the courts. These children often come from disrupted backgrounds and may have experienced abuse, neglect, or other disadvantages. Permanent carers are responsible for the day-to-day care of the child and make long-term decisions about their education, health, and overall well-being. The permanent care order remains in effect until the child turns 18, but the relationships formed between carers and children can last a lifetime. Australia offers various types of child care services, including centre-based care, family day care, and home-based care, with financial assistance available to eligible families.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of care | Permanent care |
| Placement | Unlike adoption, it is not a voluntary placement. |
| Decision-making | The Department and the courts make decisions about the safety of children and whether they will be placed with a permanent care family. |
| Duration | The permanent care order expires when the child turns 18 years old. |
| Relationship with the birth family | In most cases, children will have contact with members of their birth family. Contact can be as simple as the provision of photos and information and/or visits. |
| Guardian's responsibilities | Day-to-day care of the child, long-term decisions about education, changes in residence, health and employment. |
| Child's rights | The child has the right to make a complaint to Child Safety if they feel their rights are not being met. |
| Financial assistance | The Australian Government provides financial assistance to help with some expenses. |
| Eligibility | Single, married or unmarried, with or without children of your own. |
| Child's background | Children come from disrupted backgrounds and may have additional needs as a result of a disability or developmental delay. |
| Types of care | Centre-based care, home-based care, family day care, residential care, kinship care |
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What You'll Learn
Permanent care is not voluntary
Unlike adoption, permanent care is not a voluntary placement. Children are placed in permanent care when the relevant department and the courts decide that they cannot safely return to their birth parents or relatives. This decision is made by the Children's Court, which grants custody and guardianship to the permanent care family.
Permanent care is different from foster care, which is a temporary arrangement that aims to reunite children with their birth parents. In cases where this is not possible, the child will spend some time in foster care before being placed with a permanent care family.
Permanent care provides children with a stable environment and relationships for life. It involves the day-to-day care of the child and long-term decision-making responsibilities, including education, residence, health, and employment. The permanent care order expires when the child turns 18, but the relationships established between permanent parents and children often last a lifetime.
Children in permanent care often come from disrupted backgrounds and may have experienced multiple moves and caregivers. They may exhibit a range of behaviours, including unusually mature or immature behaviour, withdrawal, learning difficulties, or challenging behaviours. It can take a great deal of love, understanding, and time to gain the trust of a child in permanent care and help them feel secure in their new family.
The permanent care process includes careful consideration of the child's contact with their birth family, which is typically facilitated and supervised by a worker from the permanent care team. This contact is important for the child's understanding of their identity and origins.
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It is different from foster care
Permanent care in Australia is a type of child care where a child is placed with a permanent carer, including foster or kinship carers, until they turn 18 or older. Unlike adoption, it is not a voluntary placement. It is intended to provide a stable and nurturing environment for children who are unable to return to their birth parents or relatives due to safety concerns. Permanent care orders are made by the Children's Court, granting custody and guardianship to the permanent family.
Differences from Foster Care:
Foster care, on the other hand, is typically a temporary arrangement with the goal of reuniting children with their birth parents. It is a form of out-of-home care where trained and accredited carers provide a safe and stable environment for children who cannot live with their own families. Foster care is often seen as a stepping stone towards permanent care or adoption.
One key difference between permanent care and foster care is the intended duration of the placement. Permanent care, as the name suggests, is intended to last until the child reaches adulthood, providing a long-term commitment to the child's upbringing. In contrast, foster care placements can vary in length, depending on the circumstances of the child and the goal of reunification with their birth family.
Another distinction lies in the nature of the relationship formed with the caregivers. In permanent care, the caregivers become the child's legal parents and are responsible for day-to-day care as well as long-term decisions about education, health, and other aspects of the child's life. The permanent care order grants custody and guardianship to the caregivers, establishing a lasting parent-child relationship that often continues beyond the child's 18th birthday. In foster care, while the carers provide a nurturing environment, the focus remains on reunification with the birth family, and the placement may end once this is achieved.
Additionally, the motivation and commitment level of caregivers may differ between permanent care and foster care. Permanent caregivers are expected to provide enduring relationships and a sense of permanence for the child, addressing their needs for stability and security. Foster care, while also aiming to provide a supportive environment, may involve multiple placements as the child's situation evolves, potentially impacting the stability of relationships formed.
It is important to note that both permanent care and foster care play crucial roles in ensuring the well-being and development of children in need. While permanent care offers a long-term solution, foster care serves as a temporary haven, often providing the initial stability that leads to a permanent placement.
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The child's birth family is involved
In Australia, permanent care is when a child is placed with approved permanent carers, such as an existing kinship or foster carer, or with new permanent carers. This decision is made by the Department and the courts, who assess the safety of the child and whether they will be able to live with their parents or other relatives.
Permanent care differs from foster care, which is a temporary arrangement that aims to reunite children with their birth parents. In cases where this is not possible, a child may spend some time in foster care before being placed with a permanent care family.
Permanent care does not mean that a child will no longer have contact with their birth family. In most cases, children will maintain relationships with their birth family, which is considered very important for their sense of identity and understanding of their origins. This contact is carefully controlled and supervised, and can include the exchange of photos, information, and updates on the child's progress. Initial visits between the child and their birth family are held in neutral places and are attended by a worker from the permanent care team, who helps to build relationships between the birth family and the new permanent carers.
In some cases, a child may have no contact with their birth family, and the permanent carers will then be responsible for helping the child understand their background and deal with their feelings as they grow up.
The permanent care order does not automatically affect the child's name, birth certificate, or inheritance rights, although a name change is possible. The permanent care order expires when the child turns 18, but the relationships formed between permanent carers and children often last a lifetime.
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The permanent carer's responsibilities
In Australia, permanent care is when a child is placed with approved permanent carers, such as an existing kinship or foster carer, or with new permanent carers. This occurs when a decision has been made that the child is unable to live safely with their parents.
Permanent carers take on all the responsibilities of the child, including their day-to-day care and long-term decisions about their education, changes in residence, health, and employment. They are also responsible for helping the child transition to adulthood and must notify Child Safety in writing if the child leaves their care at any point in the future.
Permanent carers must ensure that the care provided to the child complies with the charter of rights, as outlined in the Child Protection Act 1999. This includes informing the child of their right to make a complaint if they feel their rights are not being respected.
Permanent carers are also responsible for helping the child maintain contact with their birth family, which is important for the child's sense of identity and understanding of their origins. This contact is carefully controlled and supervised and can include the exchange of photos, information, and visits.
In addition to these responsibilities, permanent carers must also provide the child with enduring relationships, love, care, and opportunities. Financial responsibility for the child falls on the permanent carer, although financial assistance is available from the Australian government for certain situations, such as when the child has a disability or medical condition.
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Financial support is available
Permanent care orders (PCOs) are granted by the Children's Court, giving custody and guardianship to the permanent care family. This means that the permanent care parent is responsible for the day-to-day care of the child, as well as long-term decisions about their health, education, residence, and employment.
The Australian Government offers financial assistance to help with the costs of child care. To be eligible, certain criteria must be met, such as using an approved child care service. The Government's In Home Care program can help with the cost of home-based child care provided by a qualified educator. This support is available to those working non-standard hours, those who are geographically isolated, or those with complex family needs.
Additionally, the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments offer financial support for permanent care children in specific situations, such as when a child has a disability or medical condition. This funding is flexible and designed to meet the extraordinary needs of the child, covering partial to full costs. It can be provided directly to the carer, retailer, or service provider.
Permanent care parents are also generally responsible for the financial needs of the child, but financial assistance is available to help with some expenses. This includes a fortnightly caring allowance and additional financial support, where relevant and approved by the CSSC manager.
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Frequently asked questions
Permanent child care in Australia is when a child is placed into the care of a permanent carer, such as a kinship or foster carer, or a new permanent carer. This is arranged when a child is unable to live with their parents or return to them in the future. A permanent care order (PCO) is made by the Children's Court, granting custody and guardianship to the permanent care family.
Unlike foster care, permanent care is not a temporary arrangement. Foster care is intended to be a short-term solution, with the aim of reuniting children with their birth parents. Permanent care is a long-term solution, where the child will remain with their carer until the age of 18 or beyond.
A permanent carer will be responsible for the day-to-day care of the child, as well as long-term decisions about their education, health, residence, and employment. They will also be responsible for the child financially, though financial assistance is available to help with some expenses.
