Kinship Alliance Australia works for recognition of all kinship cares as full-time carers of children with parental responsibilities. See below for two current projects.
A Statutory Declaration for all Informal Kinship Carers
Informal kinship carers frequently report difficulty in establishing their authority to exercise day‑to‑day parental activities such as applying for children’s birth certificates and Medicare cards, and signing consent for medical procedures and extracurricular activities. Victoria, NSW and South Australia have Statutory Declaration templates for informal kinship carers in place; they vary as to what they include. Access these below.
All kinship carers have the right to recognition and should be able to discharge their parental duties without bureaucratic barriers. The Parliamentary Friends have written to the Attorney-General, Mark Dreyfus KC MP on behalf of Kinship Alliance Australia seeking a Commonwealth Government Statutory Declaration template specifically for informal kinship carers. We understand that such a document does not require legislation. The Attorney-General’s response indicates that he has not yet appreciated the need, but as always, we persist. The Chair of the Alliance has responded to him directly providing further information and requesting reconsideration; copies of the letter have been sent to the Parliamentary Friends, and to the Minister for Social Services. We await a response.
Recognition in the Commonwealth Carers Recognition Act 2010
Did you know that kinship carers are not recognised as carers in Australian law? The Commonwealth Carer Recognition Act 2010 excludes kinship carers from the definition of a carer. You can read the Act here. A few State Carer Recognition Acts recognise some kinship carers (e.g. Queensland recognises grandparent carers but not other kinship carers). Others don’t recognise any kinship carers. Use the button below to see if grandparent/kinship carers are recognised in your State or Territory.
Kinship Alliance Australia is advocating for all kinship carers to be included in the Commonwealth Carers Recognition Act. That means grandparents, other relatives, family friends and connected people, informal and formal grandparent/kinship carers, FIrst Nations and non-Indigenous. Watch this space.