The Department for Child Protection and Family Support (the Department) seeks to create a Cross-Sector Foster Carer Panel (the Panel) that will provide transparency and probity in the assessment of all foster carers. The establishment of this Panel is a key reform action outlined in the Building a Better Future Out-of-Home Care in Western Australia report. The Panel will review foster carer assessment reports and recommendations for foster carer approvals submitted by the Department and community sector organisations that provide care arrangements for children in out-of-home care in Western Australia.

The Department has approved a model that all foster carer assessments, state-wide, be considered by a Panel who are suitably qualified and experienced people. The Panel will be comprised of representatives from the out-of-home care sector (the Department and community service organisations) and independent representatives. The primary benefit of the model of whole of sector representation is that it supports contemporary, “on the ground” understanding of the foster carer role and continued sector-wide learning and sharing and a level of independence. The Panel will be supported by a Secretariat provided by the Department.

Through multiple Request processes, the Department seeks to create the Panel. This Request is for the services of the Community Services Members, where the services of the Panel Chair and the Aboriginal Panel Member are advertised separately on TendersWA (Request DCP201645 and Request DCP201656, respectively).