What is kinship care?
Kinship care is when a family member, close friend or another significant person cares for a child or young person when they cannot live with their parents.
Kinship care helps maintain a child or young person’s connection to family, community and culture. The arrangement can be informal or managed through child protection services.
The Victorian Government recognises the important role of kinship carers. Thank you for your commitment to making a positive difference to the lives of children and young people across Victoria.
2025 Victorian Protecting Children Awards
Kinship carers were recognised at the 2025 Victorian Protecting Children Awards in September 2025.
These prestigious awards have been running for 22 years, showcasing the remarkable effort and passion across the Victorian child and family services sector and community.
Read the heart-warming story of the 2025 Kinship Carer Award winner on the Victorian Protecting Children Awards web .
Supports and resources
Kinship care arrangements can be informal or managed through formal processes such as child protection services.
All kinship carers are eligible for a Victorian Carer . The card provides access to a wide range of discounts and benefits.
If you or someone you know is a kinship carer of children through formal processes, resources and supports are available.
- The Care Support Help provides tailored support to carers via a phone line. It helps children, young people and carers get important documents like birth certificates.
- Carer has learning and development opportunities for carers. Free sessions are available online and in-person across a range of topics.
- Care is a payment made each fortnight. It helps home-based carers with day-to-day costs of supporting a child in care. Allowance rates are based on the age and needs of the child.
- Extra financial support is available through Client Expenses and Placement . It helps meet additional expenses not covered by the care allowance.
- The Education Supports for Children in program gives children and young people in care one-on-one tutoring. It is offered to support children and young people who are not engaged or are showing signs of not being engaged in school. The program is offered in 4 locations.
- The Pathway to Good program delivers health screening, assessment, planning and referrals to Victorian children and young people aged 0–17 years entering or re-entering statutory care. This includes children and young people in kinship care. The program is delivered in partnership with the Department of Health.
More information
Learn more about kinship care and supports available to carers on the Kinship care web .
Reviewed 03 October 2025