Key issues that arise for foster carers have been identified in the recent DFFH Victorian Home-based Carer Census

The impact on carers of the administrative load, out of pockets costs, lack of documentation and the complex processes carers are expected to navigate on top of the care they provide to children and young people are among the top concerns we hear about from carers at FCAV. 

These issues are borne out in the data from the recently conducted Victorian Home-based Carer Census - Report on the DFFH website.

Frustration and bureaucratic hurdles are often directly responsible for experienced carers exiting the care system or the red tape creates delays and barriers for carers seeking to provide necessary services and supports for the children and young people in their care.

Another theme within the data was that the current financial reimbursements for carers and the children in their care are inadequate. Inadequate funding is also a cause for experienced carers to leave the care system and/or creates untenable barriers to access essential support services for children to aid recovery from trauma.

The failure to retain experienced carers and facilitate early intervention support services for children in care, has a high social and economic cost.

The FCAV continues to advocate for a broad range of funding improvements, streamlined processes and information access pertaining to carers and the children in their care, so that carers' time, resources and energy can be focussed on meeting the needs of the children and young people in their care.

Read more on the systems impost on foster carers reported in the media here: https://tinyurl.com/tjeup93s