A quick guide to decision making
If you are a long-term carer and parental responsibility has been allocated to the Minister of DCJ, then you will be responsible for making many of the day-to-day decisions about your child. However, certain decisions can only be made by your agency (whether that's DCJor a non-government agency). There are also a small number of decisions that can only be made by DCJ.These guides give you some basic information about which decisions you can make on your own, and which need input from your agency. If you're not sure whether you can make a decision in a particular situation, or if you need help to organise approval either from your agency or from DCJ, contact your caseworker.
Family life
Carers must always keep their caseworkers informed about anyone who has regular contact with the child in their care. DCJ may need to do a Working With Children Check (WWCC) on that person, even if they are a partner or family member.
FAMILY LIFE | Carer | Agency |
Celebrations Make arrangements for celebrations in the carer family; being mindful to arrange those celebrations so that they don’t impact on birth family contact visits | ||
Child minding (unplanned or infrequent arrangements) Make arrangements for child minding as necessary | ||
Child minding (planned and frequent arrangements including formal childcare) Approve child minding arrangements | ||
Name change Approve a legal change of name for the child | ||
Pocket money Decide on amount and frequency | ||
Religious instruction Facilitate religious instruction as detailed in the Case Plan | ||
What the child should call you the carer The carer can decide on the name used by the child, but should speak with the child at an age-appropriate level to ensure they understand the difference between their birth parents, and their carer |