Push to makes guardianship of kids easier for foster parents

FOSTER parents or relatives who have cared for a child for two years would more easily be able to gain guardianship, to give the child more stability, under laws put to Parliament by the Opposition.

FOSTER parents or relatives who have cared for a child for two years would more easily be able to gain guardianship, to give the child more stability, under laws put to Parliament by the Opposition.

The move is in line with recommendations from the Nyland Royal Commission into the state’s child protection system in a bid to place more children who are in state care with families.

The State Government has pledged to introduce a new Children’s Protection Act to Parliament by the end of the year, which would likely include similar guardianship provisions.

However, Opposition Deputy Leader Vickie Chapman said there was “no reason to slow this down”.

“Every week that goes past, more children are being passed from one (short-term foster) house to another and that’s just not acceptable,” Ms Chapman said.

“We’re not prepared to wait for the end of the year before we can see a Bill on this.”

There are about 3000 children in state care.

For those who remain in a foster family long-term, there is an option for carers to gain greater legal rights, known as Other Person Guardianship (OPG), however it has rarely been used until recently.

In 2014-15, only 11 families gained OPG status. In 2015-16, the figure rose to 14.

Child Development Minister Susan Close told Parliament there had been at least 17 approvals so far this financial year.

The Government has been trying to encourage more guardian arrangements but was criticised by Royal Commissioner Margaret Nyland for slow progress.

She noted the waiting time to gain guardianship had reached two years and the option had been “seriously neglected” by authorities.

Ms Nyland recommended fast-tracking OPG where children had been with the same foster carers for two years and restricting the ability of birth parents to deny their child being shifted into such an arrangement.

Ms Chapman’s Bill attempts to introduce these provisions.

Dr Close said there had been a “renewed focus” on encouraging guardianship and “a more streamlined process for consideration”.

“Having said that, I think we can do more, and part of the consideration with looking at the foster care system is also to look at the way in which Other Person Guardianship works because it is one of the attractions for some foster carers who wish to have a long-term relationship with children,” she said.

“We need to make sure that path is relatively straightforward and with all due consideration for the security of the child.”