Carer ID cards are automatically issued on a monthly basis by the Department for Child Protection to all new approved carers.

Cards are re-issued to approved carers every 3 years.

Types of identification cards

There are 3 types of identification cards:

Approved carer ID card

Foster carer's identification card

The approved carer identification card is used to verify your status as a carer and to clarify your relationship to the children or young people in your care. It reflects whether you are approved to provide Foster care, Kinship care or Specific Child Only care.

Some carers will hold both a Long Term Guardianship (Specified Person) ID card and an approved carer ID card, as they may have Long Term Guardianship (Specified Person) of a child in their care and still provide Foster, Kinship or Specific Child Only care to other children.

Verification of child in care card

The verification of child in care card contains important information about the child or young person in care, such as:

  • type of order
  • expiry date of the order
  • Medicare and health care card number (if known).

Your child's case worker will provide you with one completed card, signed by the office supervisor, for each child or young person placed in your care.

If you need verification of a child in care cards for the young people in your care, contact the child’s caseworker.

Long Term Guardianship (Specified Person) carer ID card

Other Person Guardianship identification card

The Long Term Guardianship (Specified Person) identification card is used to prove your status as a guardian and to clarify your relationship to the children or young people in your care.

The card carries both the name of the carer and the name of the child so it can be used in the same way as a verification of child in care card.

Long Term Guardians (Specified Person) do not require a verification of a child in care card, as the child’s full name and date of birth are included on the Long Term Guardianship (Specified Person) ID cards.

The card has an expiry date which is the day the child or young person turns 18.

Using the identification cards

When using the identification card, carers or guardians will need to show photo identification like a:

  • drivers licence
  • proof of age card
  • student ID.

Approved carers will also need to show the child or young person's signed verification of a child in care card.

Where to use the card

You can present your card to identify that you are a carer or guardian to:

  • staff at hospitals and community health services (such as CAMHS)
  • SA Dental Service, doctors and pharmacists
  • schools, kindergartens and child care centres.

Can I still use my card if I’m aware a care concern has been raised in relation to the care I provide?

A care concern can be a difficult time in a foster or kinship carer's life.

If you are still providing care for children and young people you can continue to use the card.If you no longer have any children or young people in your care and do not wish to provide further care, you should return the card to the department. Details of how to do this are on the reverse of the card.

Can I still use my card if I am no longer an approved carer?

If your approval to provide care has been cancelled, you should return the card to the department. Details of how to do this are on the reverse of the card.

Contact

Carer Approval and Review Unit

Phone: 1800 065 246

Page last updated: 3 November 2021