This report describes an exploratory study on various aspects and risks to stability in foster and kinship placements. The report finds that compared to foster care, risks to placement stability are more evident for kinship care. Kinship carers (predominantly grandparents) are older and few have formal agency support. They cope, some not easily, with challenging...

Grandparents have long played a major role in the lives of their children and grandchildren, with some providing extensive emotional, material and practical support. Since the last quarter of the 20th century in Australia as in many other countries, grandparent carers - the focus of this study - have become both politically organised and a...

The Royal Commission has released its fourth issues paper, and is seeking submissions from interested individuals and government and non-government organisations about preventing sexual abuse of children in out-of-home care.

In November 2012, the Minister for Family and Community Services, Pru Goward MP, released a discussion paper containing child protection legislative reform proposals. The reform proposals are in three parts: (1) promoting good parenting; (2) providing a safe and stable home for children and young people in care; (3) and creating a child-centred system. This...

The blue card system was introduced in 2001 to address widespread community concerns about the number of children who had been exposed to significant levels of abuse in service environments intended to promote their safety and wellbeing. The system was further strengthened on 31 May 2006 to include screening requirements for foster and kinship carers...