Roger Jaensch,Minister for Human Services
Foster and Kinship Care Week 2019 provides an opportunity to recognise the tremendous service that foster carers perform in our community and in the lives of individual children.
Becoming a foster carer can be a rich and rewarding experience, and the Hodgman majority Liberal Government is committed to doing everything we can to support our foster carers who provide positive and nurturing environments for children.
In order to support foster and kinship carers with advice and information, the Tasmanian Government has set up the Foster and Kinship Carer Helpline.
The helpline is a statewide service staffed by experienced experts who can give direct advice or refer callers to resources and services if required, and assist with any matters relating to the care of a child.
In addition to this, we are pleased to announce that through Royal Life Saving Tasmania, the Government is supporting nearly 200 children living in out-of-home care to access Learn to Swim sessions.
Children who are in Prep, Grade 1 and Grade 2 in 2019 and living in out-of-home care are being invited to take part, as are parents and carers who can attend workshops, to learn about the importance of water safety.
These initiatives by the Government are ensuring outcomes for children and young people in out of home care are the same as for any child in the community, and that children who are not able to live at home are provided with a positive and nurturing environment.
The Foster and Kinship Carer Helpline is 1800 732 522.
