02/09/2024
https://www.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/nsw-government-to-ban-use-of-alternative-care-arrangements-for-vulnerable-children
Have a read of this.
Whilst I'm totally onboard with this, a lot of kids in ACA's are children who have escalated behavioural and medical issues. The money would be better suited to support the carers financially to stay home and support these children and their needs and employ a team of medical professionals to support and create early intervention methods for these children who ALL have trauma.
Whilst there are programs designed to pay carers $80-90k a year tax free to care for a child, it's not enough to cover all the needs and medical costs too and deal with the escalated behaviours at hand. Mind you you are only allowed to house one child at a time. This doesn't allow room for the thousands of others that need a home. Yet there are carers like us who are willing to take on more kids but need a bigger residence, car and financial support to do so. It would cost the government maybe an initial $300k and ongoing $150-200k per year to support a family like us to do this. If only they would listen they could save hundreds of thousands of dollars and provide safe stable and loving homes to these children in need.
These kids never asked to be a Foster Child. It's hard enough dealing with seperation from family let alone all the stuff that has attributed to their trauma and any ongoing medical needs.
Let's all get on board to support the kids. At the end of the day, the children are our future!
