Connecting Foster and Kinship Carers SA (CF&KC-SA): What They Do and Who They Help
The Peak Body for Family-Based Carers in SA
Connecting Foster and Kinship Carers SA (CF&KC-SA) is the peak advocacy body for family-based carers in South Australia. Funded by the Department for Child Protection (DCP), CF&KC-SA represents approved foster carers, statutory kinship carers, and Long Term Guardians (Specified Person) — people who care for children placed through the state child protection system.
Their work sits in the space between individual carers and the system. When a carer disagrees with a DCP case plan, struggles with a placement decision, or needs someone independent to speak on their behalf, CF&KC-SA provides that voice.
What CF&KC-SA Offers
Independent carer advocacy. This is CF&KC-SA's core function. If you are an approved DCP carer and you are in conflict with your caseworker or the DCP care team over a decision about the child — placement changes, contact arrangements, support levels — CF&KC-SA can advocate on your behalf. Their advocates attend care team meetings with you and represent your perspective independently of DCP.
Support groups. CF&KC-SA runs carer support groups across South Australia. These groups connect approved carers with others who understand the specific pressures of statutory care — the reporting requirements, the contact visits, the court processes, and the emotional complexity of caring for children who may eventually return to their parents.
Training and development. CF&KC-SA offers training sessions for foster and kinship carers. Topics cover trauma-informed care, managing challenging behaviour, understanding the child protection system, and your rights and responsibilities as an approved carer.
Policy and systemic advocacy. Beyond individual cases, CF&KC-SA makes submissions to parliamentary inquiries, government reviews, and policy consultations that affect family-based carers. When the SA government considers changes to child protection laws or carer payment structures, CF&KC-SA represents the carer perspective.
Who CF&KC-SA Serves — and Who Falls Outside
CF&KC-SA's primary mandate is approved carers within the DCP system. This means:
- Approved foster carers — yes
- Statutory kinship carers (child placed by DCP under a Youth Court order) — yes
- Long Term Guardians (Specified Person) (guardianship granted by the Youth Court) — yes
- Informal kinship carers (private family arrangement, no DCP involvement) — limited
The distinction matters. If you are raising a grandchild under an informal arrangement without any DCP involvement, CF&KC-SA is not your primary support organisation. Grandcarers SA is the specialist body for informal kinship carers in South Australia.
That said, CF&KC-SA does not refuse informal carers entirely. They can provide general information, referrals, and point you to appropriate services. If your informal arrangement later becomes formal (for example, if DCP becomes involved and you are assessed as a kinship carer), CF&KC-SA becomes a direct resource.
Free Download
Get the SA Kinship Carer Checklist
Everything in this article as a printable checklist — plus action plans and reference guides you can start using today.
CF&KC-SA vs Grandcarers SA
These two organisations serve overlapping but different populations:
CF&KC-SA focuses on approved carers within the DCP statutory system. Their advocacy work requires that relationship with DCP — they intervene in care team disputes, represent carers in system processes, and push for systemic policy changes within the child protection framework.
Grandcarers SA (formerly Grandparents for Grandchildren SA) focuses on informal kinship carers — grandparents and other relatives raising children outside the DCP system. They provide peer support through Village groups, emergency material aid, education grants, and help navigating Centrelink and school paperwork.
Many carers access both organisations at different stages. An informal carer who later enters the DCP system may transition from Grandcarers SA support to CF&KC-SA advocacy. A statutory carer whose guardianship order terminates when the child turns 18 may find ongoing peer support through Grandcarers SA.
How to Contact CF&KC-SA
CF&KC-SA's contact details are available through the DCP carer information pack provided at the start of a statutory placement. You can also find them online. If you are an approved carer and have not been connected to CF&KC-SA, ask your DCP caseworker for a referral.
If you are an informal kinship carer looking for the right support starting point, our South Australia Kinship Carer Support guide maps out which organisations serve which arrangement types and includes the contact details, payment pathways, and application processes for carers across SA.
Get Your Free SA Kinship Carer Checklist
Download the SA Kinship Carer Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.