THE leading foster care organisation in NSW has lost hundred of thousands of dollars in funding from the State Government because of a potential for banned carers to be appointed to its board.
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The Foster Care Association, which has represented the state's carers for 20 years, has lost funding for 2008-09 worth $320,000 after months of turmoil and bitter infighting over board elections, changes to its constitution and claims of misappropriated funds.
It is the changes to the association's constitution which have incurred the wrath of the Department of Community Services and led to the funding cuts.
In a written statement to the Herald , the department said that "DOCS simply cannot support the management of a foster care association by individuals who have themselves been banned from caring for children in foster care."
It said it had sent a "notice of termination" to the association on June 13 giving it until July 31 to appeal. "The FCA was unfortunately unable to show sufficient cause as to why its funding should be extended," it said.
The association runs counselling and support services for the state's 4000 foster carers, a 24-hour advice line and education sessions. It also represents carers in disputes with DOCS and non-government agencies over foster allowances.
DOCS protested when it learnt the organisation had changed its constitution to allow anyone, including "de-authorised" carers, on its board. All foster carers have to be authorised by DOCS or an approved non-government foster care agency, and can have authorisation removed if complaints of ill-treatment of their charges are sustained.
The former president, Mary Jane Beach, and the treasurer, Paulette McFarland, who were kicked off the board earlier this year, supported amending the constitution in line with the department's wishes.
"It's unacceptable to have de-registered carers in positions of authority in this organisation," Ms Beach said yesterday. However, she said she was dismissed after other board members made unfair allegations against her.
The incoming president, Andrea Cairns, said she was not aware of any de-authorised carers being on the board. She said she had also tried to comply with DOCS's recommendations, and had gone further to insist board members have police and working-with-children checks.
DOCS had responded that her proposed constitutional changes were "not acceptable". She had appealed to the Minister for Community Services, Kevin Greene, to intervene.
DOCS said it would redirect the association's funds to other organisations through an expression of interest process.
A break-away body, the Foster Parents Support Network, which has operated with volunteers since 1998, said it would apply for the funds with the aim of becoming the peak foster care organisation.
Earlier this year the department awarded a $4 million contract to Karitane, the infant health organisation, and the Foster Parents Support Network, to provide a statewide education program for foster and kinship carers.
More than 12,700 children are in foster and kinship care, an increase of 37 per cent in five years. Official complaints of mistreatment of foster children by their carers or by DOCS staff have also soared, from 152 in 2002 to 434 in 2007, with 46 per cent of last year's allegations sustained.
Carers have told the Government's Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection that some children made unfounded allegations of abuse and that the department took too long to investigate.
