Foster and kinship carers for children and young people under the age of 16 will receive an additional fortnightly $50 allowance to their base and respite payments from January 2022.
The increase will help contribute to the day-to-day expenses of caring for a child or young person such as food, clothing, and recreation. It will come into effect on 1 January 2022.
It is also another example of how the Department for Child Protection is bringing our Statement of Commitment to life. This Statement recognises the importance of working in partnership with our carers, and valuing them as an essential and respected part of the care team for children and young people.
The new rates are:
Age group | Payment period | 1 July 2021 | % increase | 1 January 2022 |
0 to 4 | Per fortnight | $363.00 | 13.8 per cent | $413.00 |
5 to 12 | Per fortnight | $402.60 | 12.4 per cent | $452.60 |
13 to 15 | Per fortnight | $579.60 | 8.6 per cent | $629.60 |
For more information on the subsidies and financial support available, visit the Who pays for what (PDF, 887.0 KB) document.