Thank you to all the wonderful people who have signed and shared this petition and to those who recognise that this is a huge issue that can not fix itself. As some of you know I help administer a site with nearly 600 members and time and time again I hear "we are not entitled to carer reimbursements because: * we have court orders * we were deemed safe and they closed the case * we don't have court orders * we did get payments but moved interstate and now we don't *we are not entitled as we are family and honestly the list goes on.............. But let me say this unequivocally THE ONLY REASON THAT A CARER OF KITH OR KIN IS NOT ENTITLED TO THE CARER REIMBURSEMENT (per child) IS IF CHILD PROTECTION (DHHS, FACS, DOCS WHOM EVER IN YOUR STATE OR TERRITORY) DO NOT KNOW THE CHILD IS IN YOUR CARE! IF THEY KNOW THE CHILD IS IN YOUR CARE THEY ARE LIABLE TO PAY THE REIMBURSEMENT! FULL STOP NO IFS OR BUTS This is one of the reasons the statistics are flawed and the help and support is not available. The Government has no idea how many carers are out there, or how many children they care for. This country is in crisis and heading towards a catastrophe on a nation wide scale. These children are our future work force, our productive members of society who contribute to our countries greatness. But they need recognition and help and they need it yesterday! If you are not receiving a carer reimbursement, write or email the child protection area asking why not? When they reply with what ever reason is in vogue at the time, send that reply with what ever documentation you have showing that they know the child is in your care, to the ombudsman in your state/territory and ask them to investigate. With the internet we can have one voice and stand strong, no longer can we be silenced and dis-empowered through segregation. Its time to have our voices heard. And remember we are not asking for anything that the government is not willing to give, we are asking for our rights and to be respected for the wonderful raising that we do. If you are a kin or kith carer come and join us so we can stand together as one and make change happen. (please private message a moderator when requesting to join)