Sydney
Morning Herald
March 30, 2002
Many foster carers accused of abuse
by Adele Horin
Almost one-quarter of foster parents surveyed
have been accused of abusing the children in their care.
In the first national poll of its kind, it is estimated the figure of 23 per
cent is probably conservative given the shame attached to abuse and the
exodus of accused carers from the system.
A high proportion of allegations against foster carers are not substantiated
and carers viewed such allegations as an "inevitable and
regrettable" part of the job.
The report, for the Federal Department of Family and Community Services, says
unsubstantiated allegations caused embarrassment and trauma to foster carers
and were a main reason they left the job.
It said a lack of statistical evidence made it hard to confirm the common
view that although abuse allegations were higher in foster families than in
ordinary families, substantiations of abuse were lower
The president of the Australian Foster Care Association, Bev Orr, said:
"You first must first acknowledge that the child may have a legitimate
claim and it must be investigated."
However, accused foster carers were often left "high and dry" and
felt isolated and ignored by the foster care system. They needed to be
supported until allegations were substantiated, she said.
The report, Supporting Strong Parenting in the Australian Foster Care
Sector, depicts foster care services as "under-resourced,
demoralised and discordant".
It calls on the Federal Government to become involved in foster care, which
is currently the states' responsibility. It estimates there are about 8340
foster families in Australia.
The survey of 812 carers showed almost half received little or no support
from the relevant state department and a similar proportion said after-hours
support was "poor" to "extremely poor". Foster carers
associated with non-government agencies received much more support.
The nationwide shortage of foster carers also meant "good" carers were
overloaded with more children than they had expected and for longer periods.
Many carers reported they were "naive and innocent" when they
embarked on foster care; that they were given insufficient information about
the children, and in one case, the worker who delivered the child did not
even know his name.
In view of data showing children in care cost 50 per cent more than other
children, due to their special needs, foster carers needed more financial
support, especially for clothes, shoes, damage to the carer's home, repair of
damaged property, and additional telephone costs.
Ms Orr said foster carers were likely to attract abuse allegations because
they were closely monitored and "anything inappropriate will be followed
up".
In addition, some young teenagers made false allegations in order to be moved
on to a new home, to escape curfews or avoid disciplinary measures
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