Day-to-day care

Babysitting and sleepovers

It’s your decision whether to use a babysitter occasionally or to let the child in your care sleep over at a friend’s house. It is very important you let your caseworker know if there is someone new living in your house (such as a boyfriend, girlfriend or family member), or if there is someone new having regular contact with your child (for example, if you have a new partner). It’s possible the new person will need to have a Working With Children Check (WWCC).

Working With Children Check is not required for someone who occasionally cares for your child, for example, a mum or dad from school who brings your child home with their own child for a play after school every now and then. Always use your judgment when making decisions about how safe and appropriate it is for your child to be babysat by a particular person or stay overnight in another home. Always provide the person who’s looking after your child with your contact details.

Regular or long-term child minding

You need your caseworker’s approval before allowing another person to look after the child or young person for more than one week (for example, if you’re planning to attend a family event interstate without the kids). You also need approval if an arrangement becomes regular (for example, every Wednesday evening when you go to netball). This applies whether the person looking after your child is a family member, friend or neighbour, or a professional service such as vacation care or a recreational camp.

Regular childcare or after-school care

Your caseworker’s prior approval is also required if you wish to enrol the child in regular childcare or after school care. As above, occasional child minding and babysitting does not require approval. Both Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) and non-government agencies will cover the cost of regular childcare that has been approved and included in the Case Plan.

School and vacation camps

School or vacation camps can offer children and young people a holiday break full of adventure and fun. Your caseworker’s prior approval is needed if the child or young person would like to attend camp for longer than one week. In considering your request, your caseworker will look at the child’s behaviour and consider if there are any issues or risks. Talk to your caseworker or agency about who would cover the costs of school and other types of camps.

Clothing

The Care Allowance you receive should cover the cost of clothing and footwear. The child or young person’s basic wardrobe should consist of clothes and shoes for different types of weather and occasions, such as play, school and special outings. It can be useful to take children of any age shopping so they can see how to handle budgets and make appropriate clothes choices. Older children who may have strong views about what they like and don’t like should definitely be involved in making clothing decisions.

Haircuts

The decision about whether the child or young person needs a haircut is yours to make. If they’re old enough, you will probably make that decision in partnership with your child. However, you should not perm or colour hair, cut long hair short or dramatically change a hairstyle without the child’s consent, no matter what their age. If you and your child are considering a significantly different hairstyle, check with your caseworker to see if the consent of the child’s parents is required.

Tattooing and body piercing

Agency consent is required if a child or young person under the age of 18 wishes to get a tattoo on any part of their body. This includes procedures known as scarification, branding and beading. Agency consent is also required for kids under 16 to pierce non-intimate parts of their body, including their ears and nose. Once they turn 16, they can have non-intimate piercings without the consent of the agency. It’s against the law for anyone to allow a child under the age of 16 to pierce intimate body parts.

Nutrition

You are responsible for making sure the child or young person in your care receives a balanced and healthy diet. If you have any concerns about the child being overweight or underweight, see your doctor or talk to your caseworker. Sometimes a medical specialist or a dietician is needed. This will be included in the Case Plan.

For information about healthy eating habits for children of all ages, including a collection of healthy recipes, visit the Healthy Kids website.

Smoking and passive smoking

It’s illegal for children under 18 to purchase tobacco products. It’s also both illegal and irresponsible for any adult to give cigarettes to a child or young person, or to buy cigarettes for them. Discourage kids from starting or continuing smoking. If you can’t prevent it, you have the right to forbid them from smoking in your home.

A child or young person shouldn’t be exposed to passive smoke in the home or any confined space, such as the car. Anyone who smokes, including visitors, should do so well away from the child. In NSW, smoking in a car with a child under the age of 16 years is against the law. An on-the-spot fine applies to any passenger who smokes, and to the driver, regardless of whether they were smoking themselves.

Sun safety

Being sensible in hot weather and having sun-smart habits can help reduce the risk of skin cancer and protect children from other common sun and heat related injuries such as sunburn, heat stroke, heat rash, dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and eye damage.

• Be a role model by wearing a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses and clothing that covers your shoulders, arms and legs.
• Use broad-spectrum water-resistant sunscreen rated SPF30+ or higher on areas not protected by clothing.
• Apply sunscreen 20 minutes before going outside and reapply sunscreen every two hours.
• Try to stay in the shade between 10am and 2pm (11am and 3pm during daylight saving hours).
• Take more care when the child is near highly reflective surfaces, such as water and snow.
• Encourage kids to drink water regularly and avoid vigorous activity in hot weather.
• Make sure a sick baby or child drinks extra fluids in hot weather.
• Avoid exposing a baby to direct sunlight and provide shade when travelling in a car.
• Never leave a baby or child alone in a car.
• Seek urgent medical attention if a child or young person in your care shows signs of heat stroke.

Day-to-day travel

You’re expected to organise and pay for, or provide, day-to-day transport for the child or young person in your care. This includes transport to school, activities, general medical appointments, dental visits and case meetings.

Travel within NSW

You don’t need approval to travel within NSW if it doesn’t interfere with the child’s schooling or planned time with family (family contact). Tell your caseworker if you’re going to be away overnight so they know the child’s whereabouts.

Interstate travel

You don’t need approval to take the child on an interstate day trip. However, you do have to get approval f if you’re planning to stay overnight or longer. Your caseworker will contact DCJ for consent to travel interstate for more than one day.

Overseas travel

You need approval before taking a child or young person overseas. Talk to your caseworker as early as you can as they will need to prepare a submission for DCJ on your behalf that includes reasons for the travel, views of the child and their parents, impact on the child’s routine (including the impact on contact with family and kin), supervision of the child, financial arrangements and any other relevant matters. Once a decision is made, you’ll receive a letter telling you whether approval has been granted or denied, and any conditions or restrictions on the travel arrangements. If approval is granted, you’ll then receive a letter of authority to travel with the child or young person. Their parents will also be advised if the travel is approved.

Applying for a passport

Your caseworker will apply for a passport on behalf of the child or young person. To avoid delays and disappointment, let your caseworker know well in advance if you’re planning to travel overseas. It can take up to 12 months to get a passport for a child in care. This is because your caseworker has to get the consent of each person who holds parental responsibility for the child, or with a right to contact under a court order, before a passport can be issued.

Pocket money

Getting pocket money helps a child or young person learn the value of money, how to use it and how to save it to buy something they really want.  It helps promote a sense of independence and, through experience, teaches kids how to make responsible financial decisions.

The Care Allowance is intended to cover pocket money. Typically, parents and carers give their children $1 for each year of their age, each week. For a 13-year-old child, for example, this equals $13 in pocket money a week.

Pocket money is not to be used by the child or young person to cover the cost of meeting their basic needs such as clothing, toiletries, food or bedding. These costs are covered by the Care Allowance. Payment of pocket money should not be linked to the child or young person performing unreasonable duties.

Chores

Giving kids chores helps them gain life skills and a sense of responsibility. From the age of five, they can help with tasks like setting the table for a meal, making their bed or helping to tidy up around the house. Helping out around the house helps kids feel even more connected to the family.Children shouldn’t expect to be paid for this type of work. The types of chores you give to a child or young person should:

• be appropriate for their age and level of physical and intellectual development
• consist of simple tasks they can do successfully, increasing in complexity as their skills increase
• be rotated to provide a variety of experiences that help develop a range of skills
• provide an opportunity for you to work alongside the child or young person and praise them for a job well done to help
• instill a sense of pride, achievement and self-confidence
• not require too much time to complete
• not interfere with school, family, play, family contact and other activities
• not be used as a form of discipline or punishment.

Savings

Helping kids develop good financial skills from an early age prepares them for the financial challenges of adulthood. When you think they’re old enough, show your child some money management basics such as how to budget, spend, save and establish good money habits for life.

• Set up a bank account. Encourage kids to set up a bank account and use it to save their pocket money, birthday money or earnings from a part-time job. You may need certain identification documents to set up the account; your caseworker can help you locate these.
• Encourage savings. Your child or young person’s savings belong to them and their savings account should be in their own name. Help them see the benefits of saving for a goal. Remember that the child in your care does not have to pay for living essentials like clothes and toiletries; these are covered by the Care Allowance.
• Needs and wants. Teach kids to set goals and think about whether they want an item before parting with their money. Discuss the difference between needs and wants and encourage kids to think about this before spending.

For more information on teaching children about money visit the government’s MoneySmart website.

Children and young people in care should be encouraged and supported to participate in positive experiences and activities, including those that may be covered by the media such as spelling bees, choir performances or sports days. Sometimes, special conditions or consents will be required. If you are in any doubt, check with your caseworker.

Public performances and media

You can give permission for kids to participate in public performances and activities covered by the media, but you must be sure they are not identified in the media as being in out-of-home care. Talk to your caseworker about any request to publish or broadcast photographs, film or anything that identifies a child or young person as being in care, including publishing the names of their parents. It’s very important that:

• there are no safety risks or casework concerns with the appearance of the child or young person
• it’s in the best interests of the child or young person to appear in the media
• their personal history or current status is not broadcast or published.

In some cases, consent must be obtained before the child’s name or any personally identifying information can be broadcast or published. This could be if the child or young person is involved or likely to be involved in any Children’s Court matter. Consent must be obtained from:

• the Court (for a child)
• the young person if the Minister doesn’t have parental responsibility
• the Family and Community Services Secretary if the Minister has parental responsibility for the child or young person.

Consent to publish or broadcast personally identifying information must also be sought if the child or young person has passed away.

In all situations, consider the safety, welfare and wellbeing of the child or young person’s needs first. Don’t give out information that discloses their whereabouts if this information is protected. There is a risk that the publication or broadcast of identifying information may alert inappropriate people to the location of the child or young person. If you’re in any doubt, talk to your caseworker.

Photography

You don’t require consent for kids to appear in a school photo, sports team photo or home video, as long as it’s for personal use.