When a child or young person can’t stay with their birth family, kinship care is the first type of care explored. Kinship care is provided by a relative or close friend to their birth family and retains family connection and a young person’s sense of belonging. 

For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, a kinship carer may be another Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person who is a part of their community.  

The duration of kinship placements can vary greatly depending on the circumstances.