The grandmother took custody of the three children recently but has been told she is not entitled to any financial assistance apart from the Family Tax Benefit.

While the Family Tax Benefit will cover the cost of food, the grandmother said she won’t be able to provide items like school uniforms.

The grandmother has had custody of the children before and on that occasion was assisted financially by Department of Community Services. However, she has been told that won’t happen now, leaving her no option but to relinquish the kids.

The grandmother said when she asked why she wasn’t able to access assistance, she was told had she left the children at the house unattended and called DoCS rather than pick them up, she would have received financial help had they been formally placed back in her custody.

“I thought I was doing the right thing,” she said.

However, as there is no court order in place she has been told there will be no financial assistance for the children.

A DoCS spokesperson said on Monday if there were no Family Law Court proceedings, Family and Community Services does not require family members to register as a carer when they volunteer to take care of children. 

“Those who require formal recognition as a carer are obliged to complete an application and undergo an assessment,” the spokesperson said.

“This assessment includes checks in relation to Working with Children, criminal history, community services history, and medical records.

“Those who pass these assessment criteria are then approved as a Relative Kinship Carer.

“A Children’s Court or Family Law Court order is needed in order for FACS to provide financial support to carers. However, FACS can provide one-off financial assistance under the Family Initiative Fund for children in informal care arrangements.”

Western Advocate