The NSW Government will ban ‘Alternative Care Arrangements’ from the state’s foster system, which has allowed children to live in motels, hotels, and caravan parks for long periods of time.
However, a recent inquiry found Alternative Care Arrangements (ACAs) were “not appropriate” for children or young people.
The Government ban means ACAs will no longer exist as an out-of-home care option by March.
ACAs
Alternative Care Arrangements (ACAs) are considered a short-term or “last resort” emergency accommodation option for foster children.
However, many children remain in ACA arrangements on a long-term basis.
According to the State Government, ACAs are “provided by unaccredited agencies with limited government oversight”.
This means children in ACAs are supervised by unaccredited staff.
Review
The NSW Advocate for Children and Young People (ACYP) handed down a report on the state’s foster care system earlier this year.
The independent office reports to the State Parliament. It found 118 young people were living in ACA in NSW last year. More than half of young people in ACA are First Nations.
Most foster children in ACA spent over three months in temporary accommodation. Some had spent over 600 days in ACA.
One person described ACA as like “moving from cage to cage”.
“I’d go missing, they wouldn’t report me missing for sometimes two weeks, three weeks,” another young person told the inquiry.
One young person told the ACYP they felt the government gave up on “looking for a family” for them, in favour of ACA as “the easiest, quickest option.”
Recommendations
The ACYP urged the State Government to listen to young people in foster care and support them with education, mentoring, and peer support.
It recommended banning ACAs and boosting investment in better support services for children in out-of-home care.
The report also recommended training and support initiatives for caseworkers and foster parents.
Ban
This week, the NSW Government announced it will ban ACAs completely by March 2025.
There were 39 children in ACAs last month, compared to 139 in November last year.
“Of the 39 children currently in an ACA, suitable alternative placement types have been identified for each individual, and efforts are ongoing to facilitate these transitions,” the NSW Government said.
ACAs cost successive NSW governments a combined total of $500 million over the past six years.
Communities and Families Minister, Kate Washington, said: “Vulnerable children do not belong in hotels, motels or caravan parks.”
Shadow Minister, Natasha Maclaren-Jones, told TDA “Every child deserves a safe and stable home and any emergency placement should only be temporary”.
She called on the Labor Government to boost investment in early intervention for at-risk families and children.
