Foster care

Foster care provides a safe and supportive home for children and young people when they are unable to live with their own families. It is temporary care, provided by trained, assessed and accredited foster carers. A child may be in care for anywhere from a single night to several years, depending on their circumstances.

When you become a foster carer, you can usually specify the length and type of care you are able to provide.

Children and young people in foster care are just like any others, except that they have typically experienced some form of trauma. They come into care at all ages and from all cultural, religious and socio-economic backgrounds. In many places there is an ongoing shortage of foster carers, and more people are always needed who can offer a safe home to a child or young person.

How a child comes into care#

Foster care and other out-of-home care can begin in different ways. One common path is a voluntary arrangement between the child’s parent and a foster care agency.

• If the placement is voluntary, the birth parent remains the responsible parent of the child.
• If the placement is ordered by a court, the rights and responsibilities of the parents and the child are set out in the order. This includes when the parents may have contact with the child.

Government or other public funding is typically provided to foster care agencies (sometimes called community service organisations) so they can run foster care programs, including specialist programs for adolescents and therapeutic care.

Foster care agencies support foster carers#

You can expect a foster care agency to offer you support through telephone contact, home visits, after-hours assistance and regular supervision sessions.

Your agency can also provide ongoing training to help you develop the skills you need to meet the challenges of being a foster carer. Training is often based on the principles of therapeutic care, trauma, healing and connection to a child’s culture and community. These learning opportunities suit people who are just starting their caring journey as well as carers with years of experience.

Financial and practical support#

Foster carers are usually provided with a range of financial supports, which may include a regular care allowance. This allowance contributes to the cost of the child’s food, clothing and day-to-day expenses. Carers may also be eligible for additional financial support to help cover extra costs that fall outside the care allowance.

Dedicated support services can also help new and existing carers with the practical side of a placement, such as making sure carers have the important documents they need when a placement begins and helping them keep track of vital documents for children in their care.

Becoming a foster carer#

If you are thinking about fostering, you can contact a local foster care agency to ask questions and learn how to become an accredited foster carer. Many regions run awareness initiatives to explain the need for foster carers and to guide people through the steps involved.

Key points#

• Foster care is temporary care for children and young people who cannot live with their own families.
• Placements can be voluntary or court ordered, and they range from overnight to several years.
• Foster carers are trained, assessed and accredited, and they receive ongoing support and training.
• Financial supports, such as a regular care allowance, help cover the costs of caring for a child.
• More foster carers are always needed; contact a foster care agency to learn more.

Where to get help#