Alternative Care Arrangements have persisted for far too long

by Dr Lisa J. Griffiths, OzChild Chief Executive Officer

The release of the Advocate for Children and Young People’s (NSW) final report on children and young people in alternative care arrangements (ACAs) will generate extensive discussion in the coming days, weeks, and months. The practice of housing children in hotels or motels, regardless of duration, is not only unsuitable for caring for our most vulnerable but also burdens taxpayers with millions of dollars in costs. Instead, investment in early intervention and foster care should be prioritised. 

Zoe Robinson’s call to end ACAs resonates across New South Wales and beyond. Governments must heed this report and adopt a bipartisan approach to abolish this abhorrent practice. This report should catalyse ending ACAs and eliminate private funding arrangements with for-profit entities. The responsibility should be transferred to Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to transition all children and young people out of ACAs. We have the capacity, experience and willingness to make this change. 

Children should never be cared for in hotel rooms. They deserve a home environment, ideally with family. Increasing funding to support family-finding initiatives for ACCOs and NGOs to redirect children and young people from ACAs is a sensible starting point. 

I fully support the report’s recommendation to enhance remuneration, training, and support for volunteer foster carers to attract more individuals to the sector. Supplementing volunteer-based foster care with professional care and improving support and training for foster carers is essential. This includes ensuring every carer receives mental health first aid and trauma support training. The question remains: why is it so difficult to secure sustainable funding for these out-of-home care initiatives? 

Additionally, the immediate transfer and funding of any Aboriginal children or young people in ACAs to an ACCO is crucial. Investment in ACCOs to conduct Aboriginal-led early intervention work to prevent children from entering care must be part of any reform, and the time for action is now.

Early intervention strategies, such as stimulus payments for families experiencing hardship to prevent overcrowding and mitigate the rising cost of living, should be part of the prevention conversation. Increased funding and access to housing support for women and children experiencing domestic and family violence are critical to keeping families safely together. 

The report’s call for immediate investment in appropriate supports and services for the wellbeing of children and young people who are or have been in ACAs is undeniable. Addressing the consequences of such inappropriate practices requires evidence-based supports to help children and young people heal and transition out of ACAs. Access to priority healthcare for those in ACAs, like a Veterans Gold Card, should be a priority action for the NSW government. 

The use of ACAs has persisted for far too long. This report, along with numerous other investigations, news stories, and the experiences of thousands of children and young people, makes it clear that we cannot continue on this path. Change is imperative, and it must start now. 

Read the final report here.