[Greens-Media] Foster kids left out in the cold by welfare to work 'reform'

[Twomey, Chris (Sen R. Siewert)]

Foster kids left out in the cold by Welfare to Work 'reform'

The proposed changes contained in the Welfare to Work package will cause
a crisis in foster care, according to Senator Rachel Siewert, Greens
spokesperson for Community Services. 

"These changes will force many carers to give up their caring role to
look for work" she said.

 "The Welfare to Work provisions force carers receiving Parenting
Payments to look for work as soon as their youngest biological child
reaches school age - meaning that they are obliged to be looking for
work even if they are fostering an infant or toddler" said Senator
Siewert.

Under the proposed guidelines foster children do not count as part of
the foster family. 

"Foster care is already more than a full time job - carers look after
children in need, often children from a background of abuse and neglect
- and they do this 24 hours a day and seven days a week" said Senator
Siewert.

Foster carers can be called up in the middle of the night to take on
kids in crisis needing temporary care. They often have to take school
age kids off during work hours to counselling sessions, meet with
teachers to discuss problem behaviour, or look after kids who've been
suspended.

"None of this will be considered an acceptable reason to miss work under
the new workplace rules" she said "... and all of it could be grounds
for summary dismissal."

"If the community loses the option of foster care the cost to the
taxpayers of looking after these children will be immense."

 "The Greens are demanding changes to the Welfare to Work provisions
that recognise foster care as 'work'," said Senator Siewert "...To
enshrine the important role that carers play in giving kids in crisis a
chance to lead meaningful and productive lives - a chance that would
otherwise be denied to them by unfortunate circumstances beyond their
control."

In Senate question time today, the government failed to recognise the
unique role foster carers play, and the need for special provisions to
protect them. They would not give them any guarantees.

"I am worried about the future of foster carers in this country" said
Senator Siewert.

		August 17, 2005


For more information or comment call Chris Twomey 0407 725 025

Email senator.siewert at aph.gov.au  |  http://www.rachelsiewert.org.au