What is foster care

What is foster care?

Foster carers provide a safe, nurturing, and secure home to children and young people aged 0–17 years who can’t live at home or with other family members. Foster carers support families by caring for children while parents get help to change. They support children and young people’s emotional, social, educational, cultural and health needs.

Emergency care

Emergency carers take in children and young people at short notice, sometimes on evenings, or weekends. This may be a for a night, a week or up to 12 weeks while we find important family and community members that a child can live with or support a child to return safely home. 

Respite care

Where friends and family are not available, formal respite care can give all types of carers a rest for short periods of time, such as during school holidays and weekends. Respite care is usually scheduled in advance but can be unplanned too. 

Longer-term care

Sometimes children require a longer-term placement. This could be while restoration is being explored, where children cannot return home for an extended period, or until they reach adulthood and are independent.

Timeframes for foster care types are a guide only. Sometimes placements are extended where in the best interests of children and young people and in collaboration with their authorised carers.

I am interested in starting my caring journey

Enquire about becoming a carer

Prefer to speak with someone? Call us on 1300 770 240. Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm.

Email: [email protected]