Relative or kinship care is a type of care that places a child or young person with a relative or someone they already know.
Caring by relatives is a common practice across cultures, but the term kinship care can have different meanings for different cultural groups.
In Australian indigenous communities, kin may be a relative of the child or young person or someone who shares a cultural or community connection.
Being cared for by relatives or kin helps children avoid the trauma of being placed in unfamiliar environments.