Family-based carers in South Australia dealing with children in need of protection can look forward to the work of a new Carer Council, which is to be established with the task of supporting the ongoing reform of the State’s child protection system.
A key recommendation of Fiona Arney’s Independent Inquiry into Foster and Kinship Care, the new Carer Council will receive ongoing support from Connecting Foster and Kinship Carers SA, meeting at least three times annually to discuss key issues.
Minister for Child Protection, Katrine Hildyard said the Carer Council is to be a minimum of 12 appointed carers to ensure true representation, kinship and foster carers from both metropolitan and regional areas with Aboriginal carers also appointed to the Council.
The Minister said that working as part of broader governance and engagement mechanisms, including the recently established Child Protection Expert Group, the new Council is to contribute to the creation of a long-term vision for the system, ensuring that the voices of carers are central to reform.
“Carers play a critical role in the child protection system, providing loving, safe and nurturing homes for children and young people in care,” Ms Hildyard said.
“I am deeply grateful to the thousands of carers who open their hearts, homes and lives to children and young people, and I am steadfastly committed to listening to them,” she said,
“We have much to learn from their experiences and wisdom.”
She said Dr Fiona Arney’s report recommended the need for strong and genuine consultation with carers, recognising their key role in a child or young person’s care team.
“The establishment of the Council directly responds to her recommendation,” the Minister said.
“I look forward to working alongside Connecting Foster and Kinship Carers SA, whom I thank for their stewardship of this important body, and members of the Carer Council, and to hearing directly from them about how we can strengthen and improve the child protection system for children, young people, families and carers,” Ms Hildyard said.
“The Council will report on its work and advocacy,” she said.
