National Foster and Kinship Care Collective (NFKCC)
The National Foster and Kinship Care Collective (NFKCC) is a voluntary group of state and territory foster and kinship care associations, representing Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and Tasmania.
The Collective’s mission is to advocate for the rights, needs and wellbeing of volunteer foster and kinship carers across Australia to ensure we recruit, train, retain and support them for the good of our community and to ensure their voices are heard and their rights upheld.
As the National Foster and Kinship Care Collective, our key focus areas are:
- Raising the Status of Australian Foster & Kinship Carers
- Appropriate Financial Support for Australian Foster & Kinship Carers
- Wellbeing for Australian Foster & Kinship Carers
- Respite Access for Australian Foster & Kinship Carers
- Cultural Connectivity Opportunities
- High Quality, Consistent, Trauma-Informed Training for all Child Protection Stakeholders
- Disability Access and Support
- Legal Access for Carers
Click here to find out more about these focus areas
Update – 12th March 2026
Further to the National Collective submission below, AIFS has released a Summary Report on the review of payments for foster, kinship and permanent carers.
What happens next?
The report and recommendations was given to the Department of Social Services in November 2025.
- The department and Safe and Supported governance partners will consider the report and recommendations
- It is up to the Australian Government and state and territory governments to decide whether they will accept these recommendations and make changes to carer payments
- If you have questions about the review, please email: OOHC-Carersreview@aifs.gov.au
Update – 2nd September 2025
The Collective recently made a submission to the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS), who have been commissioned by the Australian Government Department of Social Services (DSS) to undertake a review of payments and financial supports for foster, kinship and permanent carers. The Carers Review is exploring the adequacy, consistency and accessibility of payments and financial supports for foster, kinship and permanent/guardian carers.The Collective’s submission presents a national perspective on the lived experiences of carers in Australia and highlights the urgent need to reform carer payment systems to ensure they are fair, cover the costs of living, and aligned with both legal obligations and the reality of providing care. It will highlight the systemic inequality for financial support for carers and look at the necessary reforms required for Family Tax Benefit A and B.
The second part of our submission addresses the inequity of carers not accumulating superannuation entitlements whilst providing care. The Collective’s submission considers the development of a “national superannuation scheme” equivalent, as an investment in the long-term well-being of and retention of carers, particularly those who commit years of unpaid public service to support children and young people under guardianship of the state, thrive and meet their full potential.
Click here to read our full submission.
This submission aligns with the goals of the Safe and Supported, the National Framework for protecting Australia’s Children 2021-2031
Update – 14th November 2024
Update – 28th June 2024
Additional strategic items were also added pertaining to legal access for carers and navigating the education system. A further update will be provided as information comes to hand.