Child related costs

Early education minimum gap payment

Child care

Kindergarten

Vacation care

Before/after school care

Payment of an Early childhood education minimum gap payment of $40 per week per child is available to assist carers meet costs arising from the child's attendance at centre-based child care and kindergarten. Foster and kinship carers will need to meet the eligibility criteria for the Australian Government Child Care Subsidy. The additional Child Care Subsidy will then meet up to 100 hours of subsidised child care per fortnight.

Where either a child in care or their carer does not meet the eligibility requirements for this payment, then Child Safety can assist in meeting child care costs. Child Safety can also assist in meeting the costs for approved before/after school care and vacation care fees. Babysitting fees and other fees associated with child care/child minding incurred while the carer attends foster carer training, foster carer forums and other carer related activities may also be met through child related costs.

The Australian Government's Department of Education and Training has published a guide to Additional Child Care Subsidy (child wellbeing) to give children a strong start through access to quality early learning and child care.

Guaranteed payment of up to $40 per week for eligible children.

Further reimbursement is at the approval of the CSSC Manager.

Schooling

The fortnightly caring allowance includes general schooling and education expenses:

• school lunches
• travel to and from school
• stationery items
• school excursion costs
• school related sporting activities
• school uniforms.

Further reimbursement is considered for costs specific to a child’s needs, as recorded in their case plan, and may include:

• payment of compulsory fees, including private school fees or boarding school fees
• fees for educational activities or elective subjects approved in case plan or Educational Support Plan
• the gap between the Department of Education and Training’s Textbook and Resource Allowance and the full costs of the book levy
• the purchase of specific items that assist in meeting the child’s educational needs
• school camps
• school photos.

Approval for additional educational costs is by the CSSC Manager or relevant financial delegate.

Tutoring

Costs for tutoring by an educational specialist or other relevant qualified professional, where this is part of child’s approved case plan or Educational Support Plan. The qualification of the proposed tutor must be reviewed/assessed as appropriate.

Approved by the CSSC Manager or relevant financial delegate.

Vocational training

Reimbursement may be considered for approved fees and the cost of course-related items for a young person to attend a vocational course, TAFE course, university or other tertiary institution.

Payment for special uniforms or equipment relating to vocational training (e.g. knives and chefs uniform) will be considered.

Approved by the CSSC Manager.

General health services

The fortnightly caring allowance includes:

• costs for consulting GP, including the Medicare gap
• all ad hoc prescribed and non-prescribed pharmaceuticals.

Child Safety will cover the full costs from the initial health assessment required for the Child Health Passport (CHP).

Child Safety may also provide costs that cover:

• ongoing GP visits as part of child’s approved health plan
• diagnostic tests referred by GP/Specialist as part of ongoing medical treatment
• extra-ordinary or ongoing pharmaceutical costs not covered through the Health Care Card, including non-prescribed medications and treatments recommended by a GP, pharmaceuticals outside PBS and vaccination/immunisation costs
• specialist meal supplements (disability) as determined by an approved case plan unless covered by HSNA/CSNA
• where a young person is living independently and requires general (non-specialist) medical assessment and treatment.

Receipts or invoices are required prior to reimbursement.

Specialist – physical health

Reimbursements may be provided for costs from ongoing specialist assessment and/or treatment for physical health needs such as physiotherapy, speech therapy as recommended by GP or qualified professional. Costs should be part of child’s case plan and detailed in a child health needs assessment (except in emergencies).

Mobility aids and equipment (glasses, hearing aids, equipment for disability) as recommended by a GP or other qualified professional.

Approved by the CSSC Manager.

Child’s approved NDIS plan may cover some of these items.

Specialist – mental health

Reimbursement may be provided for ongoing psychiatry, psychology specialist assessment and/or treatment, where the treatment is approved as part of the case plan.

Approved by the CSSC Manager.

The fortnightly caring allowance includes all general travel costs including local bus/train expenses.

The fortnightly caring allowance also covers fuel costs up to 250km per week per child.

When the 250km per week threshold is exceeded, a kilometric motor vehicle allowance may be paid for the distance travelled after 250km.

Child Safety may provide for travel needed to:

• attendance at court
• transport to and from child care or vacation care
• respite
• carer assisted driving lessons for young people and for costs associated with a change of care arrangement.

Approved by the CSSC Manager or relevant financial delegate.

Carers intending to transport children in care are required to have a current driver's license and either comprehensive motor vehicle insurance or third party property damage to receive the kilometric reimbursement.

Family contact travel

Reimbursement may be provided for:

• mileage and associated travel costs for family contact visits as recorded in the child’s case plan
• Translink Go Card purchased by Child Safety
• bus, train and taxi fares.

Approved by the CSSC Manager or relevant financial delegate.

Reimbursement may be provided to support carers for travel expenses, including mileage in excess of the 250km threshold, associated with:

• a child or young person attending school in the public or private education systems
• attendance at an educational camp
• school excursions.

The support can be provided where a child or young person attends a specific school as part of their case plan. For example, when a selected school is not the closest to the carer's home or the child or young person is attending boarding school or a tertiary institution.

Overseas travel

Child Safety may provide expenses relating to approved overseas travel including:

• passport photographs
• travel insurance
• the purchase of passports and visas
• domestic air travel to enable overseas travel.

In rare circumstances, airfare and accommodation costs may be considered in essential and/or exceptional circumstances.

Guardian consent is required for child to travel overseas, regardless of who pays. The guardian will be either the child’s parent or Child Safety, depending on the type of child protection order.

The Minister’s approval is required for costs of overseas travel over 5 hours, and Director-General can approve costs of overseas travel under 5 hours.

Property modifications

The fortnightly caring allowance includes a contribution to:

• maintenance costs for the dwelling including general wear and tear, and repairs
• home and contents insurance to cover theft, loss or damage; you are required to claim on your own insurance in the first instance
• cleaning items/costs.

On a case-by-case basis, Child Safety may provide redress for property damage or loss due to the actions or inactions of Child Safety or a child, where this is not covered by insurance. In rare circumstances, financial support may be provided for some property modifications in support of a long-term placement, as outlined in the case plan.

Approved by the CSSC Manager or relevant financial delegate.

The fortnightly caring allowance includes a contribution to:

• registration and roadworthiness
• maintenance and running costs
• fuel
• motor vehicle insurance.

In rare circumstances, Child Safety may lease a vehicle for a specified period between 4 to 6 weeks, where this is part of an approved case plan.

The fortnightly caring allowance includes a contribution to:

• furniture and household goods including bedding and furnishing items for a child
• routine maintenance on household goods including wear and tear and repairs
• household services such as phone and internet service providers and utility expenses - electricity, water, gas and oil.

On a case-by-case basis, Child Safety may approve the purchase of furniture and/or other items for the child to facilitate their placement with a particular carer. As a general rule, the items purchased would move with the child.

Other supports which may be provided to carers in some circumstances include in-home services such as a cleaner or short-term babysitting to assist the carer in the day-to-day care of a child or young person. This is provided as a short-term arrangement, which would be regularly reviewed.

Family connection

Child Safety may provide financial support for the child or young person's costs for family contact or cultural connection. This includes:

• accommodation and associated costs where overnight stays or other supports are required for family contact
• life diary costs
• gifts for the child’s parents/siblings who are not in care or are in a different placement
• cultural activities and events
• costs associated with attending Family Group Meetings.

Approval by the CSSC Manager or relevant financial delegate.

Birth certificate

Although each child will have a copy of a birth certificate on his or her Child Safety file, another birth certificate or certified copy may be obtained for the carer.

Approval by the CSSC Manager or relevant financial delegate.

Transition to adulthood

All young people aged 15 years or more should have a transition to adulthood plan. Financial support may be provided, as agreed in the plan and may include:

• independent living establishment expenses
• life skills development
• driving lessons
• assistance with bond or white goods for a rental.

Approval by the CSSC Manager or relevant financial delegate.

Funeral arrangements

Costs associated with the funeral of a deceased child in care.

Approval by the CSSC Manager or relevant financial delegate.

Arrangements are made in accordance with the wishes of the child’s parent.

The fortnightly caring allowance includes:

• leisure and recreational activities including pocket money, purchase of gifts, hobbies, entertainment and holiday expenses
• safety equipment such as baby helmets and knee and elbow protectors.

Child Safety may also provide further financial support for:

• costs for child with a talent or ability for a particular activity that should be encouraged e.g. sport, music or art
• ongoing costs for activities recommended by a medical practitioner
• advanced coaching or tuition to allow the child to develop higher levels of proficiency in an ongoing activity.

Approval by the CSSC Manager or relevant financial delegate.