QFKC Support Team
Queensland Foster and Kinship Care receives funding from the Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services to provide advocacy and support to foster and kinship carers. The demand for assistance has rapidly increased over the past few years as knowledge of the organisation and its services have become better known through the alternative care sector.
To provide greater levels of support and advocacy for foster and kinship carers and in keeping with the results of a national survey which indicated that carers would prefer to be supported by foster and kinship care peak bodies and other carers, QFKC established the Foster Care Advocacy and Support Team (FAST) in early 2002.
In 2021 QFKC undertook their second review of the FAST program and one of the outcomes of the review was a name change. In July 2022 FAST officially changed its name to Queensland Foster and Kinship Care Support Team. This name change reflects the critical role QFKC play in the support of kinship carers.
Frequently Asked Questions
The support team is a group of trained specialist local foster and kinship carers who have volunteered to provide advice, support and advocate on behalf of other foster and kinship carers.
Support Team members are attached to one of six regions across Queensland. They have the capacity to provide advice, support and advocacy to all carers in their region and across the State where required. QFKC support team members also provide face to face support to carers within proximity or tele link into meetings where needed. The Support Team member provides a local avenue for foster and kinship carers to receive advice, support and/or advocacy on individual matters.
Any carer is able to approach QFKC to become a support team member. Interested carers receive an application with a selection criteria and a position description. Once the application is received, QFKC seeks feedback from key stakeholders in the relevant region.
The applicant is then invited to attend two days of induction training and then a final recommendation is made to QFKC’s Service Support Manager, for consideration of all the information provided and training undertaken.
Careful consideration has been made to the developmental and support needs of the Support Team members.
Training: Eleven modules of in-depth information and skills training have been written to consolidate and extend on the current skills and knowledge of all support team members.
Co-ordination: An experienced Coordinator and Case Officers are available to debrief with Support Team members as required, provide advice and assistance and take on more complex cases referred by the Support Team members. Regular tele link and email groups have been established to enable the support and contact among Support Team members. QFKC Support Team members receive individual support through their Coordinator and Case Officers via an on call process.
If you’d like to access more information about what it takes to be a Support Team member, please contact our Head Office in Banyo on (07) 3256 6166 or our Townsville Office on (07) 4779 9513 and one of our experienced staff members will provide you with an application pack.
If you’ve considered the position description and meet the criteria, Please complete the application to express your interest in becoming a Support Team member. Please send your completed application via:
Email: admin@qfkc.com.au
Post: Queensland Foster and Kinship Care Inc, Unit 7/10 Depot Street, Banyo, QLD, 4014
As a Support Team member, you have a great opportunity to network in your community to build strong and productive working relationships with key stakeholders. Every year our Support Team members are provided with regional training over a 2-day period with workshops and personal development opportunities.
QFKC meets the costs associated with transport, accommodation, and meal expenses that directly relate to the event. Support Team members also receive free registration to our QLD Foster and Kinship Care conferences. Please contact Queensland Foster and Kinship Care for specific concessions you would be eligible for as a QFKC Support Team member.
When considering making an application to be a Support Team member you must consider the time you have available to commit to the role. QFKC Support Team members are often called upon to attend meetings and to participate in carer training. It is important that you consider your obligation regarding time already committed to being a family who foster as well as committing time to other foster and kinship carers. The role and expectations can be further explored by speaking to the QFKC Support Team Coordinator.