The Palaszczuk Government is taking steps to strengthen its support for Townsville's foster and kinship carers.
Minister for Children Leanne Linard visited the city to host a morning tea for carers to mark Foster and Kinship Carer Week, and to thank those carers who form the heart of the child protection system.
"It's always fantastic to meet with the foster and kinship carers, who are doing such an important job," she said.
"Our carers open their homes to some of the state's most vulnerable children and young people, and our ability to help children in need would not be possible without them."
Ms Linard said her department was working to ensure effective communication with all carers and to provide the support they need while caring for a child or young person.
"We've recently established Connected in Caring – a local consultative team to ensure foster and kinship carers are supported and listened to," she said.
"This new team has been established to take carriage of foster and kinship carers and to make sure we are meeting our obligations to them."
The team met for the first time in late April and was made up of foster carers, representatives from Queensland Foster and Kinship Care, departmental representatives, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations.
The initiative will focus on four priority areas: engaging and communicating with carers; establishing clear expectations for carers and the roles undertaken by their support agencies and the department; consistency of approvals and information provided to carers; and clarifying financial information.
Member for Thuringowa Aaron Harper said it was important to continue to assess the experiences of foster and kinship carers and the new team would be an important part of that assessment. "I'll always push for more improvements for our carers and our young people," Mr Harper said. "It's important there is greater communication with carers, and they know how to provide feedback and escalate matters if needed."
Ms Linard said in addition to the Connected in Caring team, senior leaders from the department, foster and kinship care support services and Child and Family Townsville met last month to discuss ways of improving foster and kinship carers experiences.
"I'm pleased to say the outcomes of this senior leaders' forum included commitments to have greater communication with carers and to promote the ways carers can provide feedback and escalate matters," she said.
"A commitment was also made for support workers and child safety officers to make joint visits to carers, where practical."
To speak to someone about foster care, call Queensland Foster and Kinship Care on 1300 550 877 or visit www.qld.gov.au/fostercare where you can view foster carer stories, learn about foster caring and submit an expression of interest.
