Grandparent, Foster and Kinship Carer Advisers 101-23041750

The advisers help non-parent carers by:

• giving them details about payments and support services based on their family circumstances
• referring them to specialist staff
• arranging referrals to federal, state and community service providers
• giving general details about Centrelink, Medicare and Child Support services
• taking part in community information sessions, and
• organising targeted Outreach to areas of need/rural and remote areas

Grandparent, Foster and Kinship Carer Advisers:

• are available across Australia
• answer calls to the Grandparent, Foster and Kinship Carer Adviser Line
• promote the service through outreach activities in their state/territory

Non-parent carers include:

• grandparent carers
• foster carers
• kinship carers and
• informal carers

Grandparent, Foster and Kinship Carer Advisers work with CTPOs to share details about:

• Services Australia payments and services
• current support in the community for non-parent carers

Advisers work with:

• the community, such as neighbourhood centres
• other government agencies, and
• non-government organisations

Non-parent carers and children in their care may need extra support while adjusting to the changes in their circumstances. Grandparent, Foster and Kinship Carer Advisers will refer non-parent carers to specialist staff, if required. Specialist staff include:

• Social workers
• Community Engagement Officers (CEO)
• Financial Information Service Officers
• Indigenous Service Officers
• Multicultural Service Officers
• Aged Care Specialist Officers

Grandparent, Foster and Kinship Carer Advisers play a key role supporting staff by:

• providing information on the support advisers can offer non-parent carers
• advising what evidence the agency needs to confirm the care arrangement
• promoting the Grandparent, Foster and Kinship Carer Adviser Line
• providing service centres with the Grandparent, Foster and Kinship Carer Adviser email
• making sure local service centres have access to the relevant posters, fact sheet and brochure

The advisers help all non-parent carers, regardless of whether they are getting payments or services from the agency.

Staff can refer:

• non-parent carers who have ongoing care for children
• community service providers who want information about payments, services and referrals for non-parent carers

Do not refer non-complex activities such as updating details and babysitting enquiries.

Staff can refer customers and CTPOs by:

• transferring the customer to the Grandparent, Foster, and Kinship Carer Adviser internal line
• telling customers to call the Grandparent, Foster and Kinship Carer Adviser Line
• sending an email to the Grandparent, Foster and Kinship Carer Adviser email on the CTPOs behalf

Dependent children aged 16 or 17 in full-time secondary study and living at home are generally not eligible for YA. If the child is aged over 16 years and they are not in full-time secondary study, they may claim a payment in their own right.

To help customers work out which payment is the best option for their family's circumstances, the Payment and Service Finder can be used. The Resources page contains a link to the Payment and Service Finder.

Eligibility to FTB Part B ceases for single parents and grandparent carers whose youngest child turns 16 years of age (or at the end of the calendar year the child turns 18 years of age if they are in full-time secondary study).