Foster carers say as many as 30 per cent of them will have to give it away, with their allowances to be cut by up to 50 per cent.
It’s part of a system overhaul which will see non-government organisations enter into new contracts.
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your online news feed on angry carers is not working
Have the same Problem as Sharon , online News on angry Cares is not working
really not happy on line feed doesn;t work
can’t watch on line about angry carer’s
really want to watch this it affects me!
Thanks it works now
The Government really needs to look at this it’s not on !
Foster care is not something to do to earn money, its to care for kids, and provide them with a loving, stable safe life. Sure the money helps with day to day expenses, but if you want to earn money to buy nice houses or flashy cars, go get a job!
You have no idea what your talking about (annoyed)
So Stay out of it.
It’s alot harder than just that especially when you have children with disabillities
that you look after.
If you had a bit of guts you would take it on yourself and see how your life changes, so obviously you don’t know what it involves !
Loving Foster Parent of 8years
and nobody has flashy cars or nice houses in this Career
I am a foster parent Vicki, (for a child with a disability,plus others) and I dont have a nice house or flashy car, but I do know of a few carers who foster just so they can pay off mortgages/cars etc, and I think thats wrong.
Im well aware that noone would be able to care for children without the allowance we get, but I dont get anywhere NEAR what a LWB carer gets, and I dont think its fair they are taking it away. But sometimes some people need to realise there are people doing the same as them, for alot less, who dont complain.
and yes, once upon a time money WAS important to me, but since Ive been fostering, things have changed. Yes, your whole world changes and your priorities change.
The children are my life. I dont need flashy cars or an expensive house, we have love, and lots of it.
Dear Annoyed
please look into this for yourself This affects every carer in NSW all care is now being transfered to NGO such as LWB. Carers like myself are just trying to get the best outcomes for ALL children in care. This is a time for all carers to stand together not be having a go at each other
Sharon you have a very good point. Its times like this we need to all get together and challenge the system. I dont think its not too prompt to say this could be the darkest time the child protection organisations have had to face. This road that has been taken is only leading to the total disassemble of the child protection structure and this time its cause at the political level. If this situation is not faced front on by carers, employees and associated, then all will possibly will be gone forever and our children will be at risk with little government protection.
What I think needs looked into the the percentage of money that the agencies receive as opposed to the amount the carer gets. In my instance the agency keeps 60-65% of the amount the government gives – I get 35%. In future we will not get respite and will be out-of-pocket a lot more. Will the agency still retain 60% of the money?
Hi Annoyed
Well then you should understand what we are trying to fight for then.
Because we want to make a differnce in there lives and be there for them.
Alot of us gave up full time jobs to look after children in need because we love
doing it and making a life for our kids.
I don’t own my own home and my car is 15years old.
Money isn’t that important but it’s a big help to be able to look after the kids
properly.
I don’t think we should be bickering I think we should all stand together on this.
The system is just going to brake down and that is certainly not good for any of us.
Sue, The percentages the organisations keeps has little to do what is happening now. The government is just not funding to sustain child protection in this country. The government is making more money than ever in history and yet most fundamental sectors across the board ie: Health, education and child protection are not getting enough money. Money is going missing on state and federal levels and nothing is getting done about it. Its time to make the government take account of their actions and force an independent audit. Politicians are getting pay rises and benefits that far exceed their job description and the whole think stinks
Vicki, I think annoyed maybe having ago at a article about some carers that admitted to use the system just as a job and pay off mortgages and now the pay cuts are in place, they are giving up fostering
The allowance we receive is only enough to pay for the childrens needs eg food, school, clothing, etc. I work part time in school hours to earn money to be able to give the children in our care those special things in life that all families experience together…the trip to the zoo, a weekend away and it also allow us to put money aside for their future…..when all allowances stop…..to help pay for higher education or assist them when they decide to leave home.
I Agree whole heartedly Daddy_of_Many what are we to do and how do we do it?
Yes and I do believe Annoyed must be going on about that I didn’t actually see the
article.
Please stop fighting each other , we are here to fight for the rights of the kids in our care and nothing else
HI all carers, I have been caring for 9 years. I am unable to work as I drive over 300km per week to keep my child in a stable school environment. I have been doing this for many years. Children in care have many needs including after school activities to help them to gain skills that due to neglect have not previously developed. This can be very expensive and the allowance received helps pay for these – I have needed to spend money on weekly medication etc. These children go to the doctors more, speech therapy counseling, all sorts of specialists during and after school. To do this non paying job properly money is needed. I am lucky to have a husband that is working and can pay our bills as what I get doesn’t always cover expenses. Should he be working to not only open our home to these children but to also pay for foster children when I have forgone my career to do this?
Hi Everyone
so now we are all on the same page ( I think) what are we all going to do?? please write to all politicians, your local papers, and ask family and friends to speak about this. We cant let this be swept under the carpet because the children we are All supporting have already copped more then their fair share
I agree Sharon , we can’t let this be swept under the Carpet . I did what I could , I been writing many Letters to Politicians and talked local papers and spoke up myself but we need the help of all Carers to do there share otherwise we wont go far . I can’t see many of us here on the page and think just a handful of us carers fighting for our and the children’s rights . Very sad to see
I don’t necessarily agree or disagree with any of you. Our aim at this time is to save as much as we can from what we’re losing; and perhaps for those of you who have been scraping by with ‘NON SUFFICIENT FUNDS’ maybe adding a bit to your allowance each fortnight. If not, both the kids and carers will suffer.
In view of the huge rise in living costs, carers will be digging into their pockets a lot more. As an aged pensioner, I already spend the majority of my money in assuring a good life with some of the good things for the kids I care for. But even uniforms for Public Schools hits around $1000- if you buy non-generic. Just one example!
As one person, we can be badgered into accepting what we’re offered ‘like it or not’!! We are looking to CARERS, UNITED IN A WORTHY CAUSE. strength in numbers!!!
Forget the ‘It’s NOT about the money’ line. It really -one way or the other- IS about the money!!! and the powers that be just love sticking it to you, that we’re just a bunch of money-grubbers. You know what? IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY FOR THEM TOO!!! It’s called BIG BUSINESS!!!
Don’t be ashamed that you receive funds for taking care of these children. Every servant is WORTHY of their pay. And BOY do we work for that ‘LESS THAN MINIMUM’ allowance. The only difference is, they get to go home at the end of each day and complain how HARD their day was. We on the other hand…
I’d take a very large bet that there is not one CEO or member in upper management who will take a cut in salary over this, but there are some redundancies being offered to SOCS and the like.
Personally, I see the only way out is to unionize.
so join the Foster carer association at
http://www.fostercarerforums.com.au/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=6 htis forum is ONLY open to carers
I have been a carer for 4years and only looked after high needs children with multiple disabilities.Its the agency that is making money from these children we work 24/7 they go home we do not. They will still advertise not for profit but are cutting the cervices to children as well as allowances.The dept puts it they are the ministers children,well step up and help with the cost.We don’t do it for the money but cannot do it for free,i have often been out of pocket and don’t complain,but hey how much money goes overseas when it should be spent o our own first.
Also the agency will still record a profit so give us a fair go so we can do our jobs properly.
We have been foster carers for a few years and had 40 children. This only affects carers in agencies who have been paid more than the allowance given to carers from FACS (DOCS) for children who are not special needs.
There is a base payment system for kids and it will be the same across the board for agencies and FACS. It angers me that carers from agencies are up in arms because they are loosing money.
FACS has been paying agencies for placement spots for high needs kids. If they are paying for a placement spot that isn’t filled by a high needs kid they will put a “normal rate” kid in that placement so they aren’t paying the agency for a empty space while paying a FACS carer to have the child.
This doesn’t affect any FACS (DOCS) carers like the media is portraying.
And I think it is despicable that cares are “giving” kids back to FACS they have had for months if they have been paid MORE for a “normal” child THAN THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE FIRST PLACE
hi i know this is off topic but i have struggled to find other carers to ask for opinions… i have been looking into becoming a carer and am currently going through the processes of checks being done with carerlink (docs)… i have been reading alot of stuff the last couple of days that says the suport that they give to carers is not great and if u ever were to question them or put in a complaint against them they could turn it around on u and manipulate the situation to look like my kids r in danger and take them from me… what ive read could just be a hole lot of crap but was wondering if any of use are carers through carerlink and if use have had any problems or what organisations do u care for and what do u like about them…
Don’t under any circumstances ask any questions or make a complaint because YES they will turn it around on you and manipulate the situation, question your mental health, bully and harass you, emotionally abuse you and now the financial abuse is raising it’s head just to top it off!