Recognition for Kinship Carers
Poverty in informal kinship care families
Australian and international research shows this is the biggest issue for informal kinship care families (Kiraly, 2015). Many kinship carers are pensioners and renters, often in public housing.
Houses are frequently overcrowded once the children arrive. Some carers with a home of their own have found it necessary to re-mortgage their house, others to use superannuation savings for the care of children. Some carers have given up study and employment to provide care, threatening their own life opportunities.
Invisibility of kinship care families
- Kinship carers are not recognised in the 2010 Commonwealth Carer Recognition Act, hence not eligible for carer services.
- Kinship Carers are not recognised as Parents - hence not eligible for parental leave. Lack of appropriate documentation often leads to difficulty obtaining birth certificates and Medicare cards for children in their care.
- Kinship carers are not recognised as adoptive parents - hence not eligible for adoption leave.
A Statutory Declaration for 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
The Commonwealth Carer Recognition Act 2010 excludes kinship carers from the definition of a Carer. A few State Carer Recognition Acts recognise some kinship carers (e.g. Queensland recognises grandparent carers but not other kinship carers). Other States and Territories 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.