Long-term care
To grow up happy and healthy, children and young people need a safe home with people who care for them.
If you are not able to go back home after living with carers for a while, Child Safety will talk with you, your parents, your carer and other important people in your life to plan for your long-term care. This includes where you will live, who will care for you and who will make decisions that affect you.
Long-term care options
There are different child protection orders that provide for your care until you turn 18:
- long-term guardianship to the chief executive
- long-term guardianship to a suitable person
- permanent care order.
Wherever possible, a long-term guardianship order to a suitable person or a permanent care order is preferred.
Your Child Safety Officer (CSO) will speak with you and the important people in your life, such as your parents and carer, about which is the best long-term care option for you. You have a right to express your views about what you think it best for you. To help you express your view, your CSO will:
- give you meaningful and ongoing opportunities to participate
- allow you to decide whether or not to participate
- give you relevant information to help you participate
- communicate with you in a way that you’ll understand
- give you the help that you need to participate.
Your CSO will record and consider your views, and may also need to share them with others.
The Childrens Court makes the final decision about which child protection order is in your best interests.
Your guardian
If a long-term guardianship order to a suitable person, or a permanent care order is made, the person who cares for you will be your guardian. They will be someone you know and trust—a member of your family or community, or your carer.
Your guardian does not replace your parents, but they will make sure that you are safe and cared for.
Your guardian will be responsible for your day-to-day care and have the right to make decisions about your care, just like a parent would. For example, your guardian can make decisions about where you go to school. You have the right to have your say for these decisions too.
We have included some answers to questions that you might have below. If you have other questions, you can talk to your CSO.
| Question | Guardianship to the chief executive | Long-term guardianship to a suitable person | Permanent care order |
|---|---|---|---|
| Can I still see my family? | Yes, arrangements will continue to be made by Child Safety. | Yes, but your long-term guardian will be responsible for the arrangements. | Yes, but your permanent guardian will be responsible for the arrangements. |
| Who will make decisions about me, my care and my future? | Child Safety plans for and makes decisions about you and your future. | While you are entitled to have your say, your long-term guardian plans for, and makes decisions about important things in your life. Child Safety no longer makes any decisions about you or your future | While you are entitled to have your say, your permanent guardian plans for, and makes decisions about important things in your life. Child Safety no longer makes any decisions about you or your future. |
| Can my living arrangements change? | Change is possible if absolutely necessary. | You will remain in the care of your long-term guardian. | You will remain in the care of your permanent guardian. |
More information
For more information about your long-term care or if you are worried your guardian is not looking after you, you can:
- call your Child Safety Officer on 1800 811 810
- talk to a Community Visitor
- call, text or email a Child Advocate from the Office of the Public Guardian
- make a complaint to our Complaints Unit.