Making Improvements for Caregivers

Caring Families Aotearoa is dedicated to ensuring that every care family and whānau is enabled, supported, and has the skills to provide tamariki/children with a secure home where they can be healed.

To ensure this happens, we advocate for caregivers by having regular ongoing conversations with MPs, Oranga Tamariki senior staff, NGO (Non-Government Organisations), Iwi reference groups, and other care Agencies around issues that affect our caregiver members.

There are currently three areas we are focusing on: Family Group Homes, Non-Statutory Caregivers, and National Care Standards.

Family Group Homes

Across New Zealand, there are over 50 Family Group Homes that provide a transitional home for up to six tamariki in need of care and protection.

These homes are run by volunteers who told us they feel isolated, that their needs were not being met, and that their contracts were ambiguous and varied across the country.

At a local level, we have been working with them and their site offices to ensure that they feel well supported and their contracts are being met. At a national level, we have been advocating for consistent contracts for all Family Group Home caregivers.

Non-Statutory Caregivers

There are approximately 6,000 tamariki in statutory care, which means Oranga Tamariki is responsible for their wellbeing.  There are a further 18,000 tamariki being looked after by a loving family member or by caregivers who have become their legal guardians.  These caregivers are called community caregivers and have not been receiving the same benefits, training, and support as statutory caregivers.

We believe that anyone that opens their home to another’s child, should be well supported to do this, they should receive the same financial benefits as statutory caregivers, and have access to training. We are very pleased to see progress in some of these areas recently.

National Care Standards

The National Care Standards and Related Matters Regulations was legislated in 2018. This set out the standard of care every child and young person needs to do well and be well, and the support caregivers can expect to receive when they open their hearts and homes to tamariki and rangatahi/children and young people.

We advocate and empower all statutory caregivers to know this document, with a special focus on part three; “assessments, plans, and supports for Caregivers”.  When agency practice does not align with the National Care Standards and caregivers ask us for our support, we advocate that they are upheld and demonstrated.

If you have an issue or concern that you would like us to advocate for on your behalf, please complete and send us the below form.