Established family and community services provider Marymead has been selected to operate the ACT Government-funded Kinship Carer Support Program to support the vital role of kinship carers in our community.
Minister for Children and Young People Joy Burch today congratulated Marymead on being selected to operate the Representation Advocacy component of the program, with two other components yet to be allocated to a service provider.
“Marymead will now be first point of contact for kinship carers, providing guidance about support, and facilitating group meetings and activities for kinship carers,” Ms Burch said.
"This reputable organisation will be a voice for kinship carers to represent their view and convey their experiences to the Department and policy process.”
The Government’s independent procurement unit, Procurement Solutions, said the Marymead proposal showed an understanding of the needs of this client group and the strategic links with the wider Out of Home Care sector.
The procurement process did not identify a provider that fully met the criteria to deliver two other components of the tender covering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander support and Education, Awareness and Support. Ms Burch said that this funding would be used to support kinship carers this financial year.
Completion of the tender process – along with the establishment of a carer liaison officer within the Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services specifically to work with kinship and foster carers – fulfils the ACT Government’s 2008 Election commitment to deliver $800,000 in support services to grandparent and kinship carers.
“We were the only political party that committed funding to kinship carers at the 2008 ACT Election, and we allocated the funds in the 2009-10 Budget in recognition of how highly this Government regards the vital role kinship carers play in the out-of-home care sector.”
Ms Burch added that the Government was now looking at the best way to fill the two other components of the tender as soon as possible.
"While the Grandparent and Kinship Carers Association was unsuccessful, I am supportive of the role the Association plays and their ongoing enthusiasm in assisting the carers around them."
Members of the kinship care community and the Association have been receiving training from the Department and financial support to travel to a sector conference in Tasmania this month.
Factsheets on the care and protection system and the Kinship Carers handbook which will be released next month were also developed with the Association's input.
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