SA Child Protection Department to offer salary to full-time specialist foster carers

Skilled people prepared to quit work to take in the state’s most troubled children are at the heart of a new effort to solve one of society’s toughest problems.

Specially trained foster carers will be paid a salary – and prevented from holding any other job – to care for some of the state’s most traumatised children.

The State Government will trial paying professional foster carers $65,000 to take in a young person who has experienced serious abuse or neglect, full-time for nine months.

The $3.8m trial will begin in December and involve 14 children aged 12 to 17 who are in state care.

The government is seeking candidates who have experience working with children with complex needs. They could include nurses, childcare workers, teachers, psychologists or paramedics.

Those who are chosen will not be allowed to work “in any other capacity”.

Child protection minister Rachel Sanderson. Picture: Matt Loxton

Child Protection Minister Rachel Sanderson said the carers would receive training to help young people develop coping strategies, problem-solving skills and interpersonal skills and encourage them to take part in sport or other hobbies.

“Children … in care have often experienced significant trauma, abuse and neglect and finding the right foster care placement for them can be challenging,” she said.

It is hoped that intensive support will enable the children to return to living with family or a stable, long-term foster carer, rather than a state-run home.

There are currently about 580 young people living with paid, trained staff in such homes, which can cost as much as $440,000 per year.

In 2016 the Nyland Royal Commission recommended SA consider professional foster care systems operating elsewhere “with a view to adopting or adapting a proven model”.

The Advertiser reported in late 2018 that Ms Sanderson was monitoring a trial in NSW which offered a $75,000 tax-free pay cheque to carers with specialist skills.

The foster carers would require experience working with children for the challenging roles. Picture: Stock

Currently, some specialist foster carers in SA can receive extra payments to care for children with complex needs, but they usually hold another job to make enough income and accrue benefits such as superannuation.

Ms Sanderson said the trial program, known as Treatment Foster Care Oregon, would be operated by OzChild.

It began in the US and now operates in countries including the UK, New Zealand, Sweden and Denmark. It is also in place in Victoria, Queensland and NSW.

OzChild chief executive officer Lisa Griffiths said the program was “backed by research” and achieved “real and measurable outcomes for young people”.

These have included increased school attendance and finding placements in more stable long-term foster care.

To become a foster carer phone 1300 2 FOSTER or visit childprotection.sa.gov.au