NSW is the first state to introduce parental leave for foster, kinship, and relative carers.
The state government’s announcement on the weekend said an entitlement of up to 16 weeks of paid parental leave for public service employees was being expanded to include other recognised carers.
The change has the potential to impact nearly half a million people reported to be working for the NSW government, as well as vulnerable children in need.
‘We desperately need more foster carers across the state so more children have a safe place to call home,’ Minister for Families and Communities Kate Washington said, ‘we’re hoping these entitlements will see more public servants putting up their hands to become foster carers’.
More time for vulnerable children to adjust
The state government says it’s the country’s largest employer, with 450,000 public servants, and is leading by example when it comes to encouraging more people to become carers.
The new policy is designed to give carers necessary time to help vulnerable children adjust to new environments, such as school and enrolments and medical appointments.
The amendments also allow eligible employees to access their paid parental leave entitlements earlier so carers can take leave closer to their time of placement while legal orders are being finalised.
Parental leave was previously only available where certain court orders were in place but is now available for all court orders where a child is placed in the ongoing care of a public service employee.
The government says the policy will help people manage the significant responsibilities that come with welcoming a child into their care, ensuring children have the best possible starts in their new families.
The government says not all children or young people have family or kin who can care for them, so foster carers from the wider community are vitally important.
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