E-mail: grands@internode.on.net
Website: grands-raising-kids.org.au
Executive Committee:
President
Eve Moyse
Vice-President
Mick Gall
Secretary/Public Officer
Leonie O'Brien
Treasurer
John Moyse
NEWSLETTER No 7
January 2014
Dear Members
Hoping you and your families had a great Christmas and are ready for a bright New Year
in which we achieve a lot for our kids.
Last month I mentioned the introduction into the NSW Parliament of the: Child
Protection Legislation Amendment Bill 2013
The bill is to be debated early in 2014. Parliament commences sitting in late February
GRANDS requested a meeting with the FACS legal representatives last week to discuss
his Bill. For many it was not possible to attend during this holiday time. However, thank
you for all those who did manage to make it, especially those who travelled from Port
Macquarie. We had a good enough roll-up to fill the meeting room. .
The meeting was arranged by Melissa Lewis from Marie New’s office. Marie New is
Director for FACS in Hunter New England and has a background in disability.
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The meeting was well worth the effort of arranging and attending and a positive, helpful
and friendly atmosphere prevailed.
The FACS legal reps, Simone Czech. and Jeevani Korothota, came from FACS Sydney
Head Office to explain the proposed legislation.
It was gratifying when they said that the submissions we put in last year about the 2012
Discussion Paper were taken into account and helped shape the proposed legislation.
Simone and Jeevani expected that what they learnt from our ‘grassroots’ meeting would
also be taken into account when drawing up legislation and policy.
Answers to some of our questions.
*The proposed legislation will not affect current kinship carers.
*Conditions will remain the same for current kinship carers.
*It is proposed that all new kinship carers, from the date the bill is passed, will have to
obtain a court order from the Children’s Court within two years of their getting the
child(ren).
*FACS will pay legal costs for carers going to court under the new system. They will
make application for guardianship orders and contact the parents of the children in
dispute.
(It was a great relief to learn this as we know court proceedings can be very stressful and
expensive.)
*It will also be possible for the children to see their legal reps pre-court and not have to
attend. This may be particularly important to children 12 years and over who will be able
to say who they would prefer to live with.
*People with (Commonwealth) Family Court orders will be able to put in a request for
assistance to FACS to be assessed to receive the Supported Care Allowance.
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If different parents are involved eg several different fathers, the court will try to hear all
cases at the same time.
*Appeals to the Supreme Court must be on a point of law and rarely happen.
*FACS will pay for court ordered drug testing and court ordered supervised access
*After court orders are granted, parents may apply for recission of the orders to regain
their children. They must pay their own court costs.
Questions for which we have no answers yet.
We also raised the question of the particular problems that can face kinship carers,
particularly aging grandparents and those caring for seriously damaged children requiring
special medical/psychological treatment, and the need for support for children and carers.
The legal reps said that there were investigations under way to set up a Non Government
Organisation to act as a peak body to coordinate and oversight services provided to foster
and kinship carers and their families.
Attached is a letter from FACS about preparing an options paper for this process. We
have asked to be put in touch with KPMG and will put our case to have input to the
preparation of this options paper.
Other good news is that we have “Katie” a Youth Worker and Trained Counsellor who
has volunteered to write a monthly page for GRANDS. Attached is “Katie’s Help Page”.
She can answer questions of a general nature so if you’d like to ask a question you can
send it to Katie via the GRANDS website, or by E-mail to grands@internode.on.net.
Eve Moyse
President
16 January, 2014
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Hi, my name is Katie* and I'd like to welcome you all to this new
section of the GRANDS newsletter and website. I am a youth
worker and a trained counsellor and have been working in the
youth work industry for 7 years. I have worked across several
fields, including drop in, out of home care, child protection,
juvenile justice, counselling, case management and group work.
I have been asked to start an information and queries column for
the Grands newsletter. This will be a place for me to provide some
general information related to the development and care of
children and young people and answer queries. Whilst my
experience is mainly with young people (12-24 year olds) and
particularly with 12-18 year olds, I have a basic understanding of
other stages of development and many of the strategies I have
learnt that assist young people, work for other children.
It is important to let you know that all the information I provide is
generic and I would always suggest you seek personalised
professional advice to ensure the children and young people in
your care get the appropriate support for their individual needs. If
you have trouble finding this professional support I may be able to
assist you in finding the appropriate professional close to you.
For the next issue I will be starting a series on basic brain
development and function. This may help you to understand how
the child/children in your care have developed and maybe to
understand their needs and behaviour better.
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It is always important for any carer to understand that behaviour
is a form of communication and it is the first type of
communication children learn. A baby doesn't have words and
therefore can't tell you what's wrong and what they want.
Nevertheless, most primary carers (the person who provides the
most regular care to a child) can usually identify the difference
between a hungry, sleepy, scared and dirty nappy cry.
For children who have suffered trauma, separation or some other
disruption to their development, communicating their
wants/needs can be difficult. These needs/wants come out in
their behaviour which can be challenging to manage. Separating
the child from the behaviour and looking at it from an objective
place is important, both for the mental health of the carer, as
challenging behaviours can make you want to tear your hair out,
and also for future development of the child. Behaviour can be
changed, though it is usually a difficult and challenging process,
for the child and the carer.
If you have any specific questions for me, please send them via Email to grands@internode.on.net and I'll be happy to answer
them, or if I don't know, I'll direct you to the appropriate website
or professional who does!
I look forward to providing you with any help that will aid you in
caring for the loved ones that you have taken on. Remember, it is
a great gift you are giving these children and even though its hard
at times and you have moments when you feel you want to give
up, they will, without a doubt, benefit from your hard work. You
won't often receive thanks, so let this be one of those times. I
thank you all for the courage, determination and love you have to
care for these children.
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You are all to be commended for taking on this great task,
especially those of you who have children of your own, or those
who are sharing their "retirement" with these children. It may
seem like a thankless job, but you all deserve a round of applause
and a pat on the back (amongst other things).
* my name has been changed for privacy purposes