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Caring for Children
Owned and managed by Department of Communities & Justice

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.

Recreation, camps, holidays

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.

RECREATION, CAMPS AND HOLIDAYS

Carer

Agency

Camps (short)

Give permission for camps of less than one week duration (interstate and overseas camps require consent from DCJ)

 

Camps (long)

Give permission for camps of one week or longer (interstate and overseas camps require consent from DCJ)

 

High-risk activities (organised by school)

Give permission for high-risk activities such as rock climbing or surfing

 

Holidays and travel (local or interstate for one day or less)

Arrange holidays and travel, and inform caseworker

 

Holidays and travel (interstate for more than one day or overseas)

Your caseworker will contact DCJ for consent to travel interstate or overseas

 

Overnight stays (one-off activities including sleepovers)

Give permission and make arrangements

 

Overnight stays (frequent/regular overnight stays)

Approve frequent/planned overnight stays

 

Passport

Apply for passport

 

Recreational, leisure, sporting and community activities

Make arrangements for participation as per Case Plan