An approved carer is anyone authorised under a relevant state of territory legislation, including third party parental orders, to have full or partial parental responsibility and/or care responsibility for a child or young person.

For children or young people placed in out-of-home care this includes carers:

• who have undergone the relevant screening/selection and approval process; and
• who have received authorisation from the relevant department or agency to enable a child or young person to be placed in their care, including carers who have received provisional authorisation; and
• for whom reimbursement is available from a government authority or non-government organisation for expenses incurred in caring for the child or young person who are part of an ongoing review process.