Information for new and current foster and kinship carers

Foster and Kinship carers are volunteers and are paid a fortnightly rate to help cover the cost of caring for children and young people. There is also a range of other financial assistance that may be available to you.

For additional costs or to understand more about what other financial supports may be available to you, speak with your carer support worker or contact us on foster.carers@decyp.tas.gov.au or 0493 227 971.

This phone number is actively monitored from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. For calls outside these times please leave a message and our team will get back to you.

For more financial supports that may be available to you or the child or young person in your care, including assistance from the Australian Government, see the below links.

• Transition to Independent Living Allowance – Services Australia
• Financial assistance for school costs
• Grandparents caring for grandchildren
• Ticket to Play
• Student fares and ticketing – Transport Services
• Services Australia
• Grandparent, Foster and Kinship Carer Advisers – Services Australia
• Foster Child Health Care Card – Services Australia
• Child Dental Benefits Schedule – Services Australia
• Family Tax Benefit – Services Australia
• Child Care Subsidy – Services Australia.

In Tasmania, the Department for Education, Children and Young People helps to keep children and young people safe. The Child Safety Service works together with the child or young person, and their family, to find ways to solve any problems affecting the safety and wellbeing of a child. The Child Safety Service supports the child or young person until it’s safe to go home again, or safe to live somewhere else.

Find out more about the Child Safety Service on the Guide to Tasmania’s child safety services page.

The out of home care system works to support children and young people to have somewhere safe to live and feel stable while they can’t be with their parents. A more detailed explanation of the out of home care services can be found on the Out of Home Care system page.

The Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act 1997 provides the framework and mandate for government, non-government services, community members and families to respond to situations where children may have experienced abuse or neglect, or where it is considered they may be at risk of suffering harm within their family.

Every young person has the right to support during their transition from the Care system into independence and to help achieve their goals. For information on supports available for young people and leaving Care plans visit the Support to transition from Out of Home Care page.

Find out how youth justice services are delivered in Tasmania and what the reform involves on the Youth justice services page.