- How long does it take before our family can become a foster family?
- Will the child's family be told where we live?
- Do children usually stay in their local area when in care?
- Will the child go to our local school or will they stay at their own school?
- How long will each placement last?
- Can foster children attend private school?
- Can foster children accompany our family on holidays?
- Can I nominate the age of the child I would prefer?
- Will the subsidy I receive affect my taxable income or Centrelink entitlement?
- Can I receive Family Allowance for foster children?
- How long does it take before our family can become a foster family?
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From the time you apply to the time you are registered takes up to 6 months.
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- Will the child's family be told where we live?
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Generally the address of the foster family is not provided to the family unless you have given your permission and it is seen as appropriate.
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- Do children usually stay in their local area when in care?
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Children and foster parents are matched accordingly to the child's needs and the preferred family structure of the foster family. To minimise disruption to the child, children usually stay in their local area. However it is not always possible to place sibling groups in their local area as they need a foster family who have sufficient accommodation for perhaps three or four children.
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- Will the child go to our local school or will they stay at their own school?
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If a child is staying for a short period they will usually remain at their own school so they continue to have contact with familiar people and places. If it is a long term placement the child would attend the school in your area.
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- How long will each placement last?
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The length of time varies depending on each child's situation. Most children are in foster care only for a short time. This might be overnight in an emergency, for a couple of weeks to provide respite or for one to six months. Some children are fostered for longer than six months or permanently if they are unable to return home. In a small number of situations a child is cared for on a shared basis by two families.
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- Can foster children attend private school?
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Generally foster children attend government schools to maintain consistent education as in many cases they will return home.
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- Can foster children accompany our family on holidays?
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Yes. Holidays are often an experience foster children have not had. You will however need to tell the case manager as it may affect regular contact with a parent.
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- Can I nominate the age of the child I would prefer?
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Yes. You can give your preference about the age and gender of a child you think would best fit with your family.
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- Will the subsidy I receive affect my taxable income or Centrelink entitlement?
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No. You do not have to declare the subsidy you receive for the child as income.
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- Can I receive Family Allowance for foster children?
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Yes. You will however need to discuss length of placement with the case worker and meet Centrelink criteria.
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