DCJ Emergency Payment for Kinship Carers in NSW

Emergency and Establishment Payments from DCJ

When a child arrives in your home unexpectedly — often with nothing more than the clothes they are wearing — the immediate costs hit hard. Bedding, car seats, clothing, school supplies, and food add up in the first week alone. The NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) provides one-off establishment payments and ongoing contingency funding specifically for these situations, but only for carers whose placement was arranged through DCJ or backed by a Children's Court order.

If you are caring for a child informally with no DCJ involvement, these payments are not available. Your financial support comes through Centrelink — start with the Grandparent, Foster and Kinship Carer Adviser Line on 1800 245 965.

Establishment Payment Tiers

DCJ structures establishment payments by the expected duration of the placement:

These are one-off payments to cover initial setup costs — furniture, bedding, clothing, safety equipment like car seats and stair gates, and essential household items the child needs on arrival.

Your caseworker or accredited out-of-home care (OOHC) agency can explain whether you qualify and how the establishment payment is arranged. It may be disbursed via Osko bank transfer, store e-vouchers, or a Community Services Centre P-Card. If you have not been offered a payment and the child has just been placed, ask your caseworker whether one is available for your placement.

Contingency Funding

Beyond the establishment payment, DCJ provides discretionary contingency funding for extraordinary expenses that fall outside the regular fortnightly care allowance. This covers costs that are necessary for the child's wellbeing but are not everyday expenses.

Common contingency-funded items include:

• Specialist dental or optical treatment not covered by Medicare or the Foster Child Health Care Card.
• Psychological or therapeutic services — particularly trauma-informed therapy for children who have experienced abuse or neglect.
• Remedial tutoring for children who have fallen behind at school due to disrupted care arrangements.
• Interstate travel for family contact — where a child needs to maintain a relationship with family members in another state.
• Specialist medical equipment or assessments not available through the public health system.

Contingency funding requires prior written caseworker approval. You cannot spend first and claim later — submit the request through your caseworker, get written confirmation, then make the purchase. Receipts must be kept for acquittal.

How to Request Contingency Funding

The process runs through your assigned DCJ caseworker or your accredited OOHC agency case manager:

1. Identify the expense and why the regular care allowance cannot cover it.
2. Get a quote or cost estimate (for dental work, therapy sessions, or tutoring).
3. Submit the request to your caseworker, explaining how the expense relates to the child's case plan.
4. Wait for written approval before committing to the expense.
5. Pay and retain all receipts and invoices for reimbursement processing.

Contingency requests are entered into DCJ's ChildStory system. Approval timelines vary — straightforward requests (school uniforms, dental) are usually fast; larger or unusual requests may need executive sign-off.

What About Informal Carers?

Informal kinship carers — those raising a child without DCJ involvement or a court order — are excluded from DCJ establishment payments, contingency funding, and care allowances. This is the most significant financial gap in the system.

If you are an informal carer facing emergency setup costs, your options are:

• Services Australia — call the Grandparent, Foster and Kinship Carer Adviser Line on 1800 245 965 to ask which Commonwealth supports fit your circumstances.
• Mirabel Foundation — provides emergency material aid (clothing, bedding, school supplies) for kinship carers, particularly where parental substance abuse is involved.
• School equity funds — most NSW public schools maintain discretionary funds for uniforms, textbooks, and excursion fees for families in hardship. Ask the principal or Student Support Officer.
• Community organisations — local charities, churches, and community groups often provide emergency material support.

Keeping Records

Whether you access establishment payments, contingency funding, or both, keep a folder (physical or digital) with every receipt, approval letter, and payment confirmation. DCJ may audit expenditure, and clear records make it straightforward. If you are ever asked to justify an expense, the written caseworker approval is your evidence.

The NSW Kinship Carer Support guide includes a claim and payment tracker designed for kinship carers — tracking DCJ payments, Centrelink entitlements, and contingency requests in one place.

See more New South Wales guides →