A NEW online system that helps protect children by allowing agencies to share information about foster, relative and kinship carers in NSW goes live today, Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall announced.
“The Carers Register is a secure, online system for agencies to identify and prevent unsuitable people from having children placed with them,” Mr Marshall said.
“Agencies can share information about existing and prospective carers – this cross-checking is an important safety check for protecting children in care as it helps prevent unsuitable carers from moving between agencies.”
Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies (ACWA) CEO Andrew McCallum welcomed the introduction of the NSW Carers Register as an added safeguard to help ensure the wellbeing and safety of children and young people in care.
“Stringent screening and assessment of foster carers during the recruitment process through to comprehensive and ongoing case management support of children and young people in care is critical to providing safe, caring homes for this intensely vulnerable population,” Mr McCallum said.
Under the new system, which is administered by the Office of the Children’s Guardian (OCG), agencies can access to information regarding:
- its own carers and their household members;
- carers who apply to the agency for authorisation as a carer; and
- anyone who becomes a household member of an agency carer.
Individuals can also access their own information in the register and request any corrections through the OCG.
The register will also ensure that carers and adult household members in a fostering family have undergone the necessary checks, including the Working With Children Check.
To visit the register: www.kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au/carers-register