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NSW Foster Carers’ Perceptions of their Support Needs – A Snapshot. The Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies (Sylvia Ghaly) in partnership with The Australian Foster Care Association (Bev Orr). Background.
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NSW Foster Carers’ Perceptions of their Support Needs – A Snapshot The Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies (Sylvia Ghaly) in partnership with The Australian Foster Care Association (Bev Orr)
Background • The Wood report and the recommendations to transfer services to the non-government sector • The lack of an independent unified voice for carers in NSW • The speculations about what carers want and need • The role of ACWA within the sector in NSW • The role of AFCA at a national level
Research Process • Questionnaires developed based on previous questionnaires • Both paper based and electronic (survey monkey) collected • Survey sent to service providers and forwarded to carers • No identifying information was recorded, not about the carer nor about the service provider
Limitations • A total of 775 surveys (including 75 on-line surveys) • % hard to determine • Hard to follow-up on issues due to the lack of identifying data • Surveys are being received until the end of August
Carers Concerns • In general carers feel undervalued • Concern about data collection that does not lead to action • Concerns about health issues, Medicare Card • Lack of prompt responses from case workers • Financial reimbursement for expenses
Further Work • For AFCA: • Comparing the data with national data • Comparing the data with similar data from previous years • For ACWA: • Preparing a written report • Include findings in ACWA’s Advocacy Agenda
Acknowledgements • The carers who completed the surveys • ACWA Members • AbSec • Community Services (NSW DHS) • Connecting Carers • Foster Parents Support Network
Contact • For Carers and National Data Bev Orr, President The Australian Foster Care Association 041-748-5737, afca@bigpond.com • For NSW Related Data and Issues Sylvia Ghaly, Director of Policy and Membership The Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies (02) 9281 8822, sylvia@acwa.asn.au