Gap cost payments to support children living in out-of-home care and their carers are now available for eligible foster and kinship carers. This new payment is in addition to support payments provided by Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services to meet child related costs and does not place a cap on the level of support that carers can receive to meet the cost of early childhood education and care. From July, foster and kinship carers caring for children aged one to five years old are eligible to receive a guaranteed minimum payment of approximately $40 per week. This will replace the kindergarten gap cost payment and will be a recurrent payment. Foster and kinship carers are encouraged to talk to their Child Safety Officers about eligibility for these payments. Read more.
