Understanding the needs of kinship carers in South Australia

Kinship care refers to the placement of children with relatives or family members other than their biological parents and is widely acknowledged as a promising model of care within the Out-of-Home-Care system. It’s capacity to maintain stability, connectedness, and overall positive outcomes for children is well documented and recognized. The connection to culture and family facilitated by this type of care is particularly significant for First Nations families and communities making it the preferred option of care that is reflective of the national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle, as well as in the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017. However, despite its legislative significance and positive outcomes for children, Kinship care in Australia lacks adequate attention and resourcing. The recent Enquiry into Foster and Kinship Care led by Dr Fiona Arney identifies multiple concerns associated with kinship care impeding the quality and stability of care provided to children. This study is responsive to some of the recommendations made by Arney (2022) advocating for ‘meaningful change’ informed by the voices and lived experiences of carers . More specifically this study aims to identify:
• Factors that contribute to the success of kinship care in promoting safety, stability and support for children.
• Factors that influence kinship carers’ decision to continue or terminate care arrangements.
• Strategies that could enhance the formal processes relevant to kinship care.
The researchers acknowledge the over-representation of First Nations children in the Child Protection system, and the importance of amplifying the voice of Aboriginal carers. This is however a small-scale study that will focus on identifying key variables that contribute to successful kinship placements to inform the design of a larger scale research project inclusive of culture and diversity