Make a difference in a child’s life.
When children or young people are unable to live with their birth families, they may need a safe and nurturing home for a period of time.
Foster carers provide care, stability and support for children and young people while decisions are made about their long-term care. This can include supporting children while their families work toward reunification, or providing longer-term care when returning home is not possible. This is known as out-of-home care (OOHC).
There are many different types of foster care, including relative and kinship care, emergency care, short- and medium-term care, and part-time care. You can learn more about the different types of care available and what they involve.
Where a child cannot return to live with their family, permanency is the goal. Permanency helps provide stability and allows children and young people to form strong, meaningful relationships with the adults who care for them. This may include long-term care, guardianship or adoption.
Who can become a foster carer?
Foster carers come from all walks of life. The most important quality in a carer is the ability to provide a safe, nurturing environment and to support children who may have experienced difficult beginnings.
Carers may be single or partnered, may already have children or not, and come from diverse cultural backgrounds and the LGBTQI+ community. What matters most is having the time, space, and capacity to care for a child’s needs.
If you’re unsure whether fostering is right for you, you can contact us via our online form or by phone, and a member of our team can help answer your questions.
I’d like to become a carer, what do I do?
If you’re interested in becoming a foster carer, the first step is to learn more about what caring involves and the pathways available in NSW.
Carers for Kids NSW provides information, resources and guidance to help you understand the different types of care and what agencies may be able to support you. Foster care agencies are responsible for assessing, training and approving carers.
Becoming a foster carer involves an assessment process with an accredited agency. This includes interviews, reference checks, medical and police checks, and ensuring your home meets safety requirements. Training is also part of the process, helping you understand what to expect and how best to support children in care.
Throughout this process, Carers for Kids NSW can help you access information, training opportunities and support.
What support will I receive as a carer?
All foster carers receive ongoing support and case management from their agency. This includes regular contact with a caseworker, access to after-hours support, and professional assistance to help meet a child’s behavioural, physical and emotional needs.
Carers also receive support around contact with a child’s birth family, where appropriate.
In addition, carers have access to training, resources, advocacy and carer-focused support through Carers for Kids NSW.
What financial assistance will I receive?
Foster carers are not paid wages. A foster care allowance is provided to help cover the costs of caring for a child, including food, clothing and everyday expenses. The allowance varies depending on the child’s age and needs.
You may also be eligible for financial assistance through Centrelink, depending on your circumstances.
More information about financial assistance is available in our Resources Library.