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Supporting sibling carers: A crucial reform in Australia's child protection system
Supporting sibling carers marks a pivotal reform in Australia's child safety system, addressing a vital aspect that has long been overlooked.
Sibling carers are often the eldest or most capable of the siblings, typically facing limited social, financial, and physical support. Despite their own experiences within the care system, these carers are expected to navigate the complexities of raising their siblings without tailored assistance. At the QFCC Youth Summit 2024, Caroline, a sibling carer, shared her story, emphasising the lack of understanding surrounding this unique group. Her testimony was instrumental in inspiring the Sibling Carers Reform, aimed at empowering young sibling carers to ensure the wellbeing and success of themselves and their families.
By supporting sibling carers, we can keep families unite and reduce the need for some young people to enter residential care.
Our commitment to sibling carers
- Children in care must have their specific and unique sibling rights upheld:
- Children in care have the right to live with their siblings.
- Children in care have the right to know about all of their siblings.
- Children in care have the right to be themselves, with no pressure to become informal or formal carers.
- Sibling carers must be recognised as distinct and unique types of carers
- Sibling carers are counted, with official reports of their existence (informal and formal arrangements).
- The Child Protection Department has specific policy and practice regarding sibling carers.
- Sibling carers know they are not alone and have mechanisms to support each other.
- Sibling carers must receive tailored support recognising their needs are unique and different to the needs of care leavers and/or kinship carers.
- There is dedicated funding and support programs for sibling carers (over and above leaving care and kinship support).
- Leaving care planning includes consideration of sibling caring responsibilities.
- Foster and kinship care agencies have tailored practice regarding sibling carers: in building our system capability to respond to and recognise sibling carers.