Qld foster carers’ allowance increase a measly 1.8pc

Queensland’s 6000-plus foster and kinship carers will see their annual allowance rise just 1.8 per cent from January.

PeakCare CEO Tom Allsop

Queensland’s selfless foster carers will be left out of pocket, with a government increase to their allowance barely enough to buy bread and milk each week.

The state’s 6241 foster and kinship carers will see their annual allowance rise just 1.8 per cent – or $310.25 annually – from January.

It is 1 per cent below inflation and the lowest increase in four years.

Department of Child Safety acting director-general Belinda Drew wrote to PeakCare Queensland revealing the increase and noted the child protection system “relies on Queensland peak child protection agencies working together with foster and kinship carers to ensure the safety, wellbeing and belonging of children and young people in care”.

However, PeakCare CEO Tom Allsop labelled the increase – equating to $5.90 per week – insulting, saying it barely covered bread and milk.

“PeakCare calls on the Crisafulli Government to urgently reconsider its decision to offer foster and kinship carers the lowest carer allowance increase in four years,” he said.

“There are thousands of foster and kinship carers across Queensland who turn up every day for children and young people in need.

Child Safety Minister Amanda Camm

“Often they are covering the costs of care from their own pocket and an allowance increase of less than $6 per week means they are going to continue to suffer in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis.”

Mr Allsop noted the number of children in care in Queensland had soared 3.2 per cent to 12,000 in the 12 months to June 30.

“This means that Queensland needs more kinship and foster carers than ever,” he said.

“Act on what frontline workers, children, young people, carers and families have said is needed to create a better system by reviewing and increasing this allowance to show our foster and kinship carers that they matter, that they are respected and that they are worth more than a $6-a-week allowance increase.”

In the previous three years, under Labor, the allowance increased 17 per cent.

Child Safety Minister Amanda Camm said the government had increased the annual allowance to $1500 for extra-curricular and educational support.

“While increases in care allowances are measured in line with the Brisbane annual consumer price index set by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, we will work closely with the sector to deliver the support they need for Queensland’s vulnerable children,” she said.

The LNP has pledged $27m for a professional foster care pilot program for children whose complex needs can’t be met in residential care.

Originally published as Qld foster carers’ allowance increase a measly 1.8pc