CPAG-NGO Consultative Group
Supported care allowance
Minutes
Meeting Date:
Minutes 28 February 2011
Meeting Location: Meeting Time:
Level 4, CE Conference Room 2:30-3:30pm
Members: Annette Gallard (Community Services- Chair), Jill De’ath and Rita Fenech (Connection Carers), Sue
O’Connor (Foster Parents Support Network), Anne-Maree Elias (COTA), Vicki Barton and Angela Webb,
representing Sam Joseph (AbSec)
2:30-3:30pm
Also in attendance:
Anne-Maree Sabellico (Community Services), Clare Rogers (Community Services), Tahn O’Brien (Community
Level 4, CE Conference Room Services – Secretariat)
Services) Toni Allan (Community 2:30=
Apologies: Bill Pritchard and Sam Joseph (AbSec)
Minutes:
Agenda # Item discussed Action by
1 Welcome and Apologies
Apologies were received and noted.
2 Minutes and Action from the previous meeting (1 December 2010)
The minutes from the previous meeting were formally endorsed and all
outstanding actions were noted as complete.
3 Project Update and progress Report
Agenda Members were advised that as of the week commencing 21 February, some
Paper 234 children/young people and 156 carers had been identified as requiring
Progress a supported care assessment across the three trial sites: Kempsey,
Update Shellharbour and Dubbo. A total of 161 assessments – 70% of the total -
were complete or underway.
Of the completed assessments, 30% resulted in a recommendation to
cease support, although it was noted that this figure changes as more
assessments are completed. In some cases children/young people had
turned 18, some had moved out of the area and some had return to live with
their parents.
The Dubbo trial is now complete and supporting resources have been
transferred to the remaining two trial sites.
The telephone hotline for carers received eight inquiries from carers, with all
issues resolved in a timely manner. The agreed process where carers are
contacted prior to home visits is proceeding well, and has minimised the
need for contentious matters to be escalated for resolution.
Members discussed the possibility that self-nomination by carers that an
allowance is no longer required accompanied by a general amnesty on past
payment recovery may be a future, more cost-effective option worth
consideration.
4 Training Available to Community Services staff for Supported Care
Assessments.
Information was sought on the training available to caseworkers conducting
the assessments, and a number of individual cases discussed as
illustration.
Members were advised that all caseworkers had completed the Casework
Development Program, along with specific training in the Supported Care
Assessment process.
5 Centerlink Welfare to Work Exemption
This agenda item resolves and action arising from the 1 December meeting,
where it was confirmed family or kinship carers no longer eligible for the
Supported Care Allowance would also not receive certificates for
consideration of a Welfare-to-Work exemption.
A review of arrangements in other states in which the Supported Care
Allowance does not exist has determined the eligibility for exemption from
Welfare-to-Work participation requirements is only provided to carers
(including kinship carers) considered registered and active. Centerlink
accepts a letter/certificate from a State authority or registered agency. Also
accepted are Family Court parenting orders. However, in all cases the
exemption can only be considered if the child being cared for has been
deemed in need of care and protection. This means private arrangements
are not sufficient for carers to be considered for an exemption.
Carers no longer eligible for the Supported Care Allowance may still qualify
for the Welfare-to-Work exemption if caring for a child with a disability or
medical condition, or if they meet the criteria for a Parenting Payment.
Members were also advised that the Attorney General’s statutory
declaration form, distributed by COTA, may be provided to Centerlink to
assist in assessing whether a carer is eligible to receive financial support
such as parenting payments. If a carer is assessed as eligible, Centerlink
will exempt them from the Welfare-to-Work requirement. However, the
declaration alone does not provide an automatic exemption.
Community Services’ Chief Executive Annette Gallard advised all states
and territories were keen for the Commonwealth to financially support
kinship carers in cases in which there were no court orders, although there
was not any current evidence of progress in the area.
6 Use of Family Initiative Fund
The Family Initiative Fund (FIF) is designed to provide innovative, flexible
and individualised assistance to children and families by providing one-off
funding used in crisis or to implement an approved case plan. The funds
may be used to purchase goods, equipment or services where the case
plan has identified the provision would support the achievement of an
identified case plan outcome. Examples include funding to purchase a
washing machine or beds and mattresses.
Following an action arising from the 1 December meeting, a memo was
issued to all Community Services Regions regarding the use of FIF to cover
applicants who may be experiencing financial hardship during the
assessment process. A copy of the Memo was provided to members.
It was agreed that the FIF was not suitable for back-payment of the
Supported Care Allowance. Long delays in payment should not arise
because the Allowance if immediately payable to carer after the appropriate
background checks haven completed (rather than only after final court
orders has been handed down). Members agreed any such delays arising
would be referred immediately to Community Services for resolution.
7 Other Business
Members noted recent meeting of the Coalition for Children in Care relation
to Kinship Care. Members discussed resources and information currently
available to Kinship Carers.
Next NEXT MEETING – to be determined Secretariat to
Meeting advise members of
new meeting date
once determined.