Additional challenges

Child Safety acknowledges that the choice to become a kinship carer is not always something that families have had time to consider over time. Becoming a kinship carer is often done in times of crisis when a family member/s requires a safe place to live.

Becoming a kinship carer comes with additional challenges that do not impact general foster carers. These can include:

• internal family dynamics and the impacts of these on family relationships
• learning of – and coping with – the trauma that has impacted the young family member/s who requires care
• the changing of roles within the family, and
• the feelings associated with not having known – or the thinking that ‘I should have known’ – about the trauma that has occurred within the family.

When a child or young person comes into care for the first time – even if being placed with family – they will require a period of time to adjust to the new environment and to process all the changes that have occurred. Child Safety provides resources to assist carers to help a child or young person settle into a new care arrangement.

The everyday care and protection of family members comes with the responsibility of making a range of large and small decisions. Understanding who can make decisions for children and young people in care, even when placed with family, is important.  Most day-to-day decisions are part of everyday life within a household, however there are some decisions that need to be made as part of the Care Team or Safety and Support Network.

Find more information about the everyday care of a family member/s.

Caring for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family member/s requires an understanding and awareness of the importance of a sense of belonging to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people need to be supported to understand their place in the family, sibling group and within their community. Child Safety has implemented a practice framework to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people stay connected to their family, culture and identity.

Find more information about caring for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island children and young people.