Fact Sheets and Resources

Legal Matters

The information contained in these legal fact sheets are designed and intended to provide general information about the current law in Victoria and were considered to be true and correct at the date of publication. Since publication the law has been amended, with changes implemented in 2016.  Read the amended legislation here.

To the best of PCA Families knowledge the information contained in these Fact Sheets continues to be true and accurate. 

If you require information about passports, change of name, parental leave, child support, wills, contracts, rights and other information please see below.

• Now that I have a Permanent Care Order, what do I need to know?
• Passports
• Rights of the child in permanent Care
• Contact arrangements
• Now that a Permanent Care Order is in place, do I need to go back to court?
• Will and succession rights of carers and Children in Permanent Care
• Other Legal Issues 
• Am I eligible to claim Paid Parental Leave as a permanent care parent?
• Am I eligible to see Child Support payments for my child under a Permanent Care Order
• Applying for a passport when your child is on a Permanent Care Order (or adopted or aboriginal)
• Application for 'Change of Name' for children on Permanent Care Orders
• Other resources in our peer support presentation on court orders (November 2021)

Leaving Care

The Victorian Government offer advice to young people to assist you when you decide its time to start planning towards moving out from your parents or carers homes.   

The key to optimal success is preparation: having a planned and supported transition to independent living, involvement in all decision making and a detailed support plan for ongoing support!

There are resources to support you through this process and it is critical that you find out what those resources are that may be available to you (whether immediately or in your future).

Find out more about what is available to you here.

Differences Between Permanent Care, Adoption and Kinship Care

• Inheritance rights, birth certificates, parentng decisions and more

Parenting and Behaviour

• The relationship between foster care families and birth families in a child welfare context
• Time-in versus time-out
• Creating a safe emotional space for your child
• Supporting your child with self-regulation of their emotions
• Parent help - strengthening self-regulation
• Other resources in our peer support presentations on various topics (respite, therapists, bullying, friendships, anger, sensory challenges, fears and triggers and more)

Health, Wellbeing and Mental Health

• Seeing your GP
• Considering therapy?
• Engaging a therapist
• The Better Access to Mental Health Care Initiative
• Kids Health Information - Royal Children’s Hospital resources related to children’s health and wellbeing
• Better Health Channel – health and medical information to improve the health and wellbeing of people and the communities they live in
• Other resources in our peer support presentations on respite care, mental health, therapists, NDIS and more.

Education Support

• School assistance with expenses
• Additional Child Care Subsidy information and fact sheet
• Calmer Classrooms: A guide to working with traumatised children
• The Education Guide for Carers of Children Living in Out-of-Home Care
• Raising Expectations - supports young people in out-of-home care and care leavers to aspire to, access and succeed in vocational and higher education.
• Great Expectations: Supporting children and young people in out-of-home care to achieve at school
• Department of Education and Training - Information for carers and parents about educational services from 0 – 17 years
• Other resources in our external resources.

Financial Support for Families

• PCA Families’ Flexible Funding program for permanent care, additional needs adoptive and families with a family law court order in receipt of DHHS care allowance. 
• DHHS Care Allowance - care allowances for assessed and approved foster care, kinship care, permanent care and additional needs local adoptive families. The care allowance contributes to the day-to-day costs incurred while providing for children and young people placed in statutory home-based care or adopted through the Victorian additional needs local adoption program.
• Carer Allowance & Payment - Services Australia - payments to assist with the cost of caring for a child/children who has a severe disability or illness. 
• Parenting Payment - Services Australia – government support payment while you are a child’s main carer

Financial Support for Young Adults

• Scholarships, bursaries and financial assistance from universities
• Home Stretch and Better Futures
• Skills first Youth Access Initiative
• Youth Allowance is available for students between 16 and 21, or up to 25 if you are a full-time student.
• Study Assist for students to acquire a HELP loan or other government assistance for financing tertiary study.
• ABSTUDY help for young Aboriginal people with study/apprenticeship costs 

Grants, Scholarships and Other Financial Supports

There are a wide variety of grants available that might support you and your family.

Australian Disability and Indigenous Peoples Education Fund – Grants of up to $2,500 for anyone living with a disability to help with education. Find out more here.

Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund -  Funding so that a family's financial circumstances are not a barrier to student participation. School administered yearly. Find out more here.

Centre for Multicultural Youth - for young people looking for work and offers support in other capacities too. Find out more here.

Country Education Foundation of Australia - Local Grants for 16-25yo to support education and employment expenses (non cash reimbursements). Find out more here.

CREATE - Create your future grant scheme is available for members 15-25yo for Driving Lessons, IT or learning and education. Find out more here.

Child Dental Benefits Scheme - Part or full cost of basic dental for a child 0-17 years old where a parent receives a Centrelink payment. Find out more here.

DFFH Scholarships - for financial hardship or at risk of homelessness here.

Dylan Alcott Foundation - Grant scheme for under 25yo with a disability who face barriers in meeting their personal, professional, vocational or sporting dreams. Find out more here.

Get Active Victoria – Helping kinship and permanent care children 0-18yo get involved in organised sport and recreation by covering up to $200 for membership and registration fees. More information here.

Higher Education Scholarships - For young people in regional or remote locations. More information here. 

Kids Under Cover Scholarships - For young people with passion to study who dont have the resources here.

National Disability Insurance Scheme - Support for persons with a permament and signficant disability. More information here.

Raising Expectations - Supporting young people to get to university or TAFE. More information here.

Skilling Australia Foundation – Financial support for 17-24yo for apprenticeships or traineeships when there is financial hardship or where they are from a minority group. Find out more here.

Social Impact Scholarships - For social impact scholarship programs. More information here.

Tertiary Access Payment – Regional or remote relocation support. More information here.

The Arthur Marsden Whiting Sympathy Fund – Grants of up to $3,000 for disabled people needing support for equipment, treatment, education or training. Find out more here.

Variety Children's Charity - Funding for 0-17yo for wheelchairs, specialist equipment and supplies where funding has already been sought funding government sources. More information here.

VET Scholarships - Are available directly from various educational institutions. More information here.

Disability

• The National Disability Insurance Scheme - provides funding and support to people with a disability
• Kindergarten Inclusion Support Program (KIS) - kindergarten inclusion for children with disabilities
• Association for Children with a Disability - resources, support and guidance
• Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) - If your child has disabilities or special needs and is on a permanent care order (PCO) and remains dependent as an adult, you can apply for an order appointing you as a plenary guardian
• Other resources in our peer support presentatons on NDIS.

Supporting Young People who are LGBQTI+

• Young people who are gay or lesbian - Parenting SA publication about supporting young people’s sexual identity

Child Protection

• Child Protection - DHHS Services - The role of Child Protection Services, reporting child abuse, description of order types and how to contact your local child protection in Victoria
• Charter for Children in Out-of-Home Care – the rights of children in out of home care
• United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child – child friendly version of the Convention
• National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2009–2020 - is a long-term approach to ensure the safety and wellbeing of Australia’s children and aims to deliver a substantial and sustained reduction in levels of child abuse and neglect over time.
• DHHS Roadmap for Reform: Strong Families, Safe Children – The 'Roadmap for Reform’ sets out the DHHS strategy for reform of children, youth and family services.

Support Organisations

• Foster Care Association of Victoria – peak body for foster carers
• Kinship Care Victoria / Grandparents Victoria – peak body for kinship carers
• Mirabel Foundation - assists children who have been orphaned or abandoned due to parental illicit drug use and are now in the care of extended family (kinship care)
• Relationship Matters – intercounty adoption and family support services
• CREATE Foundation - consumer body representing the voices of children and young people with an out of home care experience
• Victorian Child Care Agency (VACCA) - state-wide Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) serving children, young people, families, and community members

Setting Up Support Groups

To find out more about PCA Families’ peer support groups, please visit the Peer Support page.

• Dealing with sensitive issues in support groups
• Setting up a playgroup?
• Legal and public liability issues for support groups

Emergency and Crisis Support

Organisation	Phone Number	Details
Emergency Services	000	24 hours, 7 days per week
Parent line	13 22 89	8am – Midnight, 7 days per week
Nurse on call	1300 606 024	24hours, 7 days per week
Kids helpline	1800 551 800	24hours
Lifeline	131 114	24hours
Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre	1800 015 188	24hours, 7 days per week
Orange Door	orangedoor.vic.gov.au	Monday to Friday, 9.00am-5.00pm
Grief line	1300 845 745	Midday—12.00am
Doctors on call	13 74 25	Monday to Friday 6.00pm – 8.00am Saturday 12.00pm – 12.00am Sunday open 24 hours
Eheadspace mental health phone & digital support 12-25 years old	1800 650 890	eheadspace website
Beyond blue	1300 224 636	24hours.