Kinship Alliance Australia

Kinship Alliance Australia was registered in December 2024 as the national kinship care organisation of Australia. Its mission is to ensure adequate support for Australian kinship carers and children in their care, and to raise awareness and advocate for policy changes that recognise and address their needs. The Alliance is inclusive of ALL Australian kinship care families, including those headed by grandparents, other relatives, family friends and connected persons; with both formal (child protection) and informal care arrangements; Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous.

Logo of Kinship Alliance Australia with white text and blue background

Where they operate

Contact this organization about:

Accessing their learning resources or tools
Care reforms in the countries where they operate
Finding out more about their work and experience
Guidance/technical support
Networking and partnerships

Organization Size

Size of the organization
Small (less than 15 employees and sub-contractors)

Headquarters Location

VIC
Australia

Main Areas of Work

Information, Support and Advice for kinship carers, kinship support services and advocates

Location
Australia
Implementation
Directly

Service is provided by email, website and telephone.

Advocacy

Location
Australia
Implementation
Directly

Advocacy for legislative and policy changes to ensure kinship care families are recognised and provided with necessary assistance.

We asked this organization to tell us a little more about their learning and knowledge sharing practices. Here is what they said

What area of your practice are you most proud of and why?

Creation of an inclusive national kinship care organisation providing advocacy for better financial and casework support for ALL kinship care families - an Australian first.

Advocacy based on the principle that the need for financial support for children in kinship care should be separated from the need for child protection intervention or subsequent legal status of care arrangements.

What area of your work has resulted in the most significant learning for your organization?

How to work with the legislature/Federal Parliament to promote systems change.

How to establish a new charity.

How to raise funds to sustain the operations of a new charity.
 

As an organization how do you engage in reflection and evaluation of your work, and incorporate learning into your practice?

Through discussions with the Board of Management.

Through discussions with leaders of social change in Australia and internationally.

As an organization how do you collaborate and participate in learning and knowledge exchange with other organizations, networks?

We involve kinship carers and young people in our meetings with politicians and in seminar and conference presentations.

We are connected with a number of international kinship care organisations that are working for change to improve recognition and support of kinship care families, and to build kinship care services in their countries. We have facilitated expert tours by international kinship care experts,and in-person and online presentations by international experts. We have given many in-person and online presentations at international and national conferences and forums.

I (Board Secretary and Managing Director pro bono) have published journal articles and opinion pieces about issues and opportunities in the kinship care field.