Kinship care programs

In Tasmania

In Tasmania, people who participate in kinship care can inform the Department for Education, Children and Young People which agency they want to get involved with. This means you can get involved with kinship care and choose Baptcare.

Where is the service offered?

We provide kinship support for the whole of Tasmania.

For more information or advice on kinship care in Tasmania, please call 03 6323 6700 or 6283 5700.

Victoria

In Victoria, Kinship Care programs can either be a statutory arrangement (arranged by a legislative body, like the government), or it can be a private arrangement with the family and any other contacts involved.

Our Kinship Care team works with the child or young person’s support network to ensure the child or young person is afforded a stable environment and their best interests are met.

This support network can include:

• the child or young person’s carer
• Child Protection
• the child or young person’s family

Where is the service offered?

In Victoria, the Kinship Care program is delivered in the Brimbank and Melton Local Government Areas.

For more information or advice on kinship care in Victoria, please call 03 9373 3800.

In Victoria, the referral to Baptcare’s Kinship Care program comes from Child Protection. Please speak to your Child Protection worker for more information.

In Tasmania, many people can make a referral to kinship care, including:

• Child Safety agencies agencies
• Non-government organisations and support service providers
• Healthcare professionals
• Schools
• Police
• Friends or family members.

To make a referral to kinship care, provide us with some information by submitting the form on this page.

What happens after I make a referral?

Where appropriate, we can talk with families about the support they might need. If required, we can also perform an initial needs and risk assessment.

Baptcare can provide information, advice, and referrals to other suitable community supports. We also consult with culturally appropriate services to ensure a sensitive response.

We will consult with relevant authorities if there are serious concerns about a child’s safety.

Kinship First Supports program – Victoria

The Kinship First Supports program supports children or young people who are in new kinship care placements that are likely to last three months or longer. The support involves an assessment, and then the delivery of family service support. As a new kinship carer, the program will support you in your new care journey.

This program runs in Victoria, where Baptcare delivers kinship services in Brimbank and Melton.

There are many ways the First Supports program can provide help, including:

• A kinship care case manager offering up to 110 hours of family services
• Help in setting up a placement that is beneficial for both the child and the kinship carer
• Referrals to connect carers or children with other services or supports that will be helpful.

For more information about Kinship First Supports, please contact us using this form.

Community Kinship program – Tasmania

The Community Kinship program provides support to carers of children and young people who are placed in kinship care. This program is delivered in partnership with Mission Australia to ensure a consistent experience for people across Tasmania.

The program can help by:

• Supporting kinship care placements that are beneficial for both the child and the kinship carer
• Referring children or carers to connect with other services or supports that will be helpful
• Providing guidance and advice

If your family is involved with Child Safety, contact your case manager to see if this could help you and your family.