5 days ago
Free Perth zoo and museum passes: WA foster families given free tickets during Foster and Family Carers Week
Free family tickets to Perth's zoo and museums are on offer again, but only for a few and only for a limited time.
Passes are being offered to the State's 3,300 foster carer households as a show of appreciation, during Foster and Family Carers Week that starts on July 28.
Minister for Child Protection Jessica Stojkovski said eligible families will save more than $300, while enjoying a day out.
'Families can apply for vouchers for either of the two museums and for the zoo, so, potentially, they could have three days out,' she said at the Boola Bardip museum on Thursday.
'These free passes are just one way that the Cook Labor Government is helping to support these families and giving them a little bit of joy.'
The Minister said a permanent increase to the foster carer subsidy, that is currently up to $607.33 per fortnight for teenagers, is also being considered, as the Government launches a campaign to boost recruitment.
'It is certainly something that we're open to looking at,' she said.
'It's not designed, obviously to cover everything and as a foster family you do it for the passion and for the love of opening your home to somebody who really, really needs a safe place.'
Every West Australian was eligible for up to four free tickets to Perth Zoo last year, as part of a major cost-of-living package, that was taken up by more than 215,000 people.
Ms Stojkovski rejected the description of free zoo and museum tickets as 'bread and circuses' to distract voters from the long-term impact of cost of living issues on families and children.
'I don't think that's the right kind of characterisation of what this is,' she said.
'This is actually acknowledging that foster cares and families do a lot of great work for the most vulnerable people in our State, and this is just a way that we're celebrating them.'
Louise and Rick Pekan currently have nine children in their home and wouldn't have it any other way, but admitted the helping hand does require a financial sacrifice.
'You're not in it for a profit at all, you're generally in it for a loss,' Ms Pekan said.
'We have extended a house, put on a $200,000 extension to be able to care for the children in our home. It's larger cars, its birthday parties and presents and things like that.
'So to be able to go to the museum, to the zoo, to take those family outings, particularly as a large family . . . it's really important to have these little opportunities for connection.'
16-year-old Nevaeh has grown up as a foster sibling, and described helping new members of the family as a rewarding experience.
'For me, it's normal. It's being able to be that sense of support and to support kids that are going through tough times. Our family really just strives to be that safe family for them in that time,' she said.
