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.
School and education
Carers must inform their caseworker if the child or young person in their care is suspended or expelled from school.
SCHOOL AND EDUCATION | Carer | Agency |
After-school activities Give permission to attend after-school activities organised by the school | ||
Before and after school care (unplanned or infrequent arrangement) Arrange and facilitate care arrangements as necessary | ||
Before and after school care (any planned or frequent arrangement) Approve care arrangements | ||
Enrol at school Enrolling in local primary or high school as required for the child | ||
Enrolment and/or transfer to a new school Make decisions regarding school enrolment, education and training and provide school with information about the child or young person’s history (where appropriate) and care arrangements, including current schooling arrangements and supports | ||
Hearing and eye tests Arrange and attend tests as appropriate | ||
High-risk activities Give permission for activities organised by school such as rock climbing or surfing | ||
Information sharing Share relevant information with school when appropriate | ||
Parent-teacher interviews Attend parent-teacher interviews | ||
Report cards and test results Review report cards and test results; note school sends copies to both carer and agency | ||
School attendance Ensure attendance on a day-to-day basis | ||
School expenses (regular) Cover the cost of school expenses such as uniforms, books, travel and excursions | ||
School expenses (additional) Pay and reimburse additional school-related expenses not covered by the Care Allowance, for example,tutoring | ||
School excursion (short) Give permission for day trip or excursion of less than one week within NSW | ||
School excursion (long) Give permission for excursion of one week or more within NSW (interstate or overseas excursions require consent from DCJ) | ||
School expulsion (consideration) Be contacted by school if expulsion is being considered; note school will contact both carer and agency (also see school suspension) | ||
School expulsion (decision) Find an alternative educational placement following expulsion (also see school suspension) | ||
School photos Give permission for child to be in school photos | ||
School suspension (less then five days) Be point of contact regarding short suspension | ||
School suspension (five days or more) Be point of contact regarding long suspension; note school will contact both carer and agency | ||
School suspension (return-to-school strategy) Agency, school and authorised carers to work together to identify and case manage appropriate return-to-school strategies | ||
Swimming lessons (organised by school) Give permission to attend |