Guide for kinship and foster carers

Guide for Kinship and Foster Carers

The Guide for Kinship and Foster Carers, Caring for Children and Young People in the Northern Territory is designed to provide carers with the best information and resources available.

The day-to-day guide is an updated version of the Kinship and Foster Carer Handbook which has been re-written in consultation with the Kinship and Foster Carers Association of the NT, CREATE Foundation NT and other key stakeholders to provide new carers with a welcoming and informative guide on becoming a kinship or foster carer in the Northern Territory.

It is designed to give carers the best information and resources to help them prepare for and welcome children into their home and create a loving and supportive home environment where children feel safe, secure and have every opportunity to thrive.

The guide includes important and useful information on your rights as a carer, decision making advice, cultural information and reunification, as well as tips to manage day-to-day issues with schooling, friendships and other common family challenges.

The role of a foster or kinship carer is an incredibly important in supporting children and young people to make our community stronger. The guide provides an informative and useful tool to assist carers and support them to provide a welcoming, safe and caring home environment for children and young people.

• Guide for Kinship and Foster Carers PDF (5.1 MB)

Payment rates

All carers receive a Standard Age Carer Payment. This is a contribution towards the reimbursement of direct costs associated with looking after children and young people placed in care.

The Standard Age Carer Payment is not considered a source of income for the purposes of annual tax returns, testing eligibility for Australian Government allowances, or when applying for loans from financial institutions. The payment is paid on a fortnightly basis by electronic funds transfer direct to the carer's bank account. Every year, Territory Families reviews the allowance rates, and adjusts them according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

• Access the current Foster Care payment rates