Page 1029 - Week 03 - Thursday, 22 March 2018

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Kinship carers can also identify family or close friends for respite. If support is provided through a family arrangement it is unfunded, but if it is through a formal request for ongoing respite it is assessed and funded by CYPS.

(4) In addition to the services outlined in the preceding questions, the CYPS Assessment and Support Team (Kinship) provides phone and face to face support to those kinship carers they directly case manage.

In 2018, the Connect Kin Program commenced which is providing a trauma informed, attachment-based 8 week group program for kinship carers with a child in their care aged 8 – 16 years who is displaying complex trauma behaviour. The Connect Kin Program is a joint program between ANU and CYPS and is open to kinship carers supported by both CYPS and ACT Together.

The Australian Childhood Foundation provides training for kinship carers, which includes foundation trauma training and life story work for kinship carers.

Kinship carers are able to access dedicated playgroups and informal networking groups to provide peer support. These are coordinated by both ACT Together and Carers ACT.

CYPS also refers kinship carers to community supports including:

i. Relationships Australia which provides free family and individual counselling to kinship carers; and

ii. Support through child and family centres, family support services and youth support services.

The ACT Government has allocated $250,000 to the ACT Carers Strategy, which is being developed using a deliberative democracy process. A Carers Voice Panel, comprising carers and members of the broader community met in 2017 to deliberate on their vision for a carer friendly Canberra, the outcomes we want to see for carers and what our shared priorities should be. This included Kinship Carers, whose stories were listened to with great interest by other panel members, and informed the Carers Voice Panel Report.

I launched the Carers Voice Panel Report and their Vision, Outcomes and Priorities Statement in December. A three year Action Plan, that will deliver on the vision, outcomes and priorities is currently being developed.

Planning—Manuka Oval
(Question No 911)

Ms Le Couteur asked the Minister for Planning and Land Management, upon notice, on 16 February 2018:

(1) What was the reason for the use of call-in powers in December 2017 to fast-track the Manuka Oval media and broadcast centre.

(2) What was the urgency to proceed with the project despite considerable concern and objection from the local community.


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