International Kinship Care Video

Did you know that ½ Australia’s population are either born overseas or have one parent born overseas.

There are over 45,000 children in care in Australia , and the majority of them would be in placements with carers that they have no biological connection with.

Where appropriate, the alternative form of care which should be prioritised is the child remaining within their extended family, as this respects the child’s right to family life and maintains family links.

This is outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and in the UN Guidelines for Alternative Care of Children.

Child protection caseworkers need to explore all options that might allow a child to remain within their extended family, including identifying any potential family placements overseas.

This video highlights why it is essential to good practice that if a child in care has extended family living overseas that they be considered as a possible long-term placement option for the child, as it  provides the child with an opportunity to maintain their identity, connection to culture and language.

If you would like more information on how ISS Australia can assist with locating and assessing potential family placements overseas, please send us an email at iss@iss.org.au or visit www.iss.org.au for more information.

ISS Australia is grateful for the funding received by the NSW Government’s Social Sector Transformation Funds in 2021/22 to produce this awareness raising video.