Child related costs
There may be some costs that cannot be met through the fortnightly caring allowance, and/or other state and federal government payments. In these situations, Child Safety may meet these costs through child related costs.
Your foster and kinship care service, where they are funded by us to provide additional and practical ‘wrap-around’ supports, may also be able to assist with some additional costs or services.
Child related costs need to be part of an approved case plan or placement agreement. The provision of these funds is not automatic and is approved by the Manager of the child safety service centre.
Category | What Child Safety may provide | Approvals and other considerations |
Education and child care support | ||
Early education minimum gap payment Child care Kindergarten Vacation care Before/after school care | Payment of an Early childhood education minimum gap payment of $40 per week per child is available to assist carers meet costs arising from the child's attendance at centre-based child care and kindergarten. Foster and kinship carers will need to meet the eligibility criteria for the Australian Government Child Care Subsidy. The additional Child Care Subsidy will then meet up to 100 hours of subsidised child care per fortnight. Where either a child in care or their carer does not meet the eligibility requirements for this payment, then Child Safety can assist in meeting child care costs. Child Safety can also assist in meeting the costs for approved before/after school care and vacation care fees. Babysitting fees and other fees associated with child care/child minding incurred while the carer attends foster carer training, foster carer forums and other carer related activities may also be met through child related costs. The Australian Government's Department of Education and Training has published a guide to Additional Child Care Subsidy (child wellbeing) to give children a strong start through access to quality early learning and child care. | Guaranteed payment of up to $40 per week for eligible children. Further reimbursement is at the approval of the CSSC Manager. |
Schooling | The fortnightly caring allowance includes general schooling and education expenses:
Further reimbursement is considered for costs specific to a child’s needs, as recorded in their case plan, and may include:
| Approval for additional educational costs is by the CSSC Manager or relevant financial delegate. |
Tutoring | Costs for tutoring by an educational specialist or other relevant qualified professional, where this is part of child’s approved case plan or Educational Support Plan. The qualification of the proposed tutor must be reviewed/assessed as appropriate. | Approved by the CSSC Manager or relevant financial delegate. |
Vocational training | Reimbursement may be considered for approved fees and the cost of course-related items for a young person to attend a vocational course, TAFE course, university or other tertiary institution. Payment for special uniforms or equipment relating to vocational training (e.g. knives and chefs uniform) will be considered. | Approved by the CSSC Manager. |
Health and wellbeing | ||
General health services | The fortnightly caring allowance includes:
Child Safety will cover the full costs from the initial health assessment required for the Child Health Passport (CHP). Child Safety may also provide costs that cover:
| Receipts or invoices are required prior to reimbursement. |
Specialist – physical health | Reimbursements may be provided for costs from ongoing specialist assessment and/or treatment for physical health needs such as physiotherapy, speech therapy as recommended by GP or qualified professional. Costs should be part of child’s case plan and detailed in a child health needs assessment (except in emergencies). Mobility aids and equipment (glasses, hearing aids, equipment for disability) as recommended by a GP or other qualified professional. | Approved by the CSSC Manager. Child’s approved NDIS plan may cover some of these items. |
Specialist – mental health | Reimbursement may be provided for ongoing psychiatry, psychology specialist assessment and/or treatment, where the treatment is approved as part of the case plan. | Approved by the CSSC Manager. |
Dental and Orthodontic |
Reimbursement may be provided to cover the costs associated with all ongoing orthodontic treatment if orthodontic treatment is required and advised by a qualified dental/orthodontic surgeon. If a carer chooses to use their private health cover for dental and/or orthodontic treatment and the required financial delegate has provided their prior approval for this to occur, Child Safety will utilise CRC to pay the gap fee for the required treatment. | |
Travel | ||
Client support travel costs | The fortnightly caring allowance includes all general travel costs including local bus/train expenses. The fortnightly caring allowance also covers fuel costs up to 250km per week per child. When the 250km per week threshold is exceeded, a kilometric motor vehicle allowance may be paid for the distance travelled after 250km. Child Safety may provide for travel needed to:
| Approved by the CSSC Manager or relevant financial delegate. Carers intending to transport children in care are required to have a current driver's license and either comprehensive motor vehicle insurance or third party property damage to receive the kilometric reimbursement. |
Family contact travel | Reimbursement may be provided for:
| Approved by the CSSC Manager or relevant financial delegate. |
Education support travel | Reimbursement may be provided to support carers for travel expenses, including mileage in excess of the 250km threshold, associated with:
The support can be provided where a child or young person attends a specific school as part of their case plan. For example, when a selected school is not the closest to the carer's home or the child or young person is attending boarding school or a tertiary institution. | Approved by the CSSC Manager or relevant financial delegate. |
Overseas travel | Child Safety may provide expenses relating to approved overseas travel including:
In rare circumstances, airfare and accommodation costs may be considered in essential and/or exceptional circumstances. | Guardian consent is required for child to travel overseas, regardless of who pays. The guardian will be either the child’s parent or Child Safety, depending on the type of child protection order. The Minister’s approval is required for costs of overseas travel over 5 hours, and Director-General can approve costs of overseas travel under 5 hours. |
Medical travel | Reimbursement may be provided to support carers for travel expenses, including mileage in excess of the 250km threshold, for a child or young person who requires medical or therapeutic services. | Approved by the CSSC Manager or relevant financial delegate. |
General carer support | ||
Property modifications | The fortnightly caring allowance includes a contribution to:
On a case-by-case basis, Child Safety may provide redress for property damage or loss due to the actions or inactions of Child Safety or a child, where this is not covered by insurance. In rare circumstances, financial support may be provided for some property modifications in support of a long-term placement, as outlined in the case plan. | Approved by the CSSC Manager or relevant financial delegate. |
Motor vehicle expenses | The fortnightly caring allowance includes a contribution to:
In rare circumstances, Child Safety may lease a vehicle for a specified period between 4 to 6 weeks, where this is part of an approved case plan. | Approved by the CSSC Manager or relevant financial delegate. |
Goods and services | The fortnightly caring allowance includes a contribution to:
On a case-by-case basis, Child Safety may approve the purchase of furniture and/or other items for the child to facilitate their placement with a particular carer. As a general rule, the items purchased would move with the child. Other supports which may be provided to carers in some circumstances include in-home services such as a cleaner or short-term babysitting to assist the carer in the day-to-day care of a child or young person. This is provided as a short-term arrangement, which would be regularly reviewed. | Approved by the CSSC Manager or relevant financial delegate. |
General support for children and young people | ||
Family connection | Child Safety may provide financial support for the child or young person's costs for family contact or cultural connection. This includes:
| Approval by the CSSC Manager or relevant financial delegate. |
Birth certificate | Although each child will have a copy of a birth certificate on his or her Child Safety file, another birth certificate or certified copy may be obtained for the carer. | Approval by the CSSC Manager or relevant financial delegate. |
Transition to adulthood | All young people aged 15 years or more should have a transition to adulthood plan. Financial support may be provided, as agreed in the plan and may include:
| Approval by the CSSC Manager or relevant financial delegate. |
Funeral arrangements | Costs associated with the funeral of a deceased child in care. | Approval by the CSSC Manager or relevant financial delegate. Arrangements are made in accordance with the wishes of the child’s parent. |
Recreation | The fortnightly caring allowance includes:
Child Safety may also provide further financial support for:
| Approval by the CSSC Manager or relevant financial delegate. |