Significant changes are happening in the child protection and out-of-home-care care systems in New South Wales.

The New South Wales Government is introducing new reforms to ensure more children and young people in out-of-home-care move towards stable, permanent homes. The Permanency Support Program is the name for these changes, which will be implemented by Life Without Barriers on behalf of the Department of Families and Community Services (FACS) from 1 July 2018.

The permanency support program

The Permanency Support Program aims to give more children and young people safe homes for life, and minimise the number of children who remain in statutory care. Safe, loving, permanent homes are the best option for children and young people because they allow them to thrive.

A permanent home can be with parents, extended family or kin, or through guardianship or open adoption.

The Program puts the needs of vulnerable children and young people first and sets goals them to be living in a permanent home within two years.

Foster carers remain critical

As the Permanency Support Program is implemented and as more children find permanent homes, it is likely that we will see fewer carers providing temporary long term care in NSW. As a carer, you will continue to play an essential role in supporting children and young people in immediate need, helping a child through the process of restoring them with their family if appropriate and providing vulnerable families with some time out to strengthen their parenting.

Resources

More information

If you have any questions or concerns about these reforms, the support we provide you, or anything else, please contact your LWB case manager.