Empowering carers

Your voice matters. By sharing your experiences and feedback, you can help shape better programs and drive real change in the system. The Carer Advisory Groups, or CAGs (formerly known as Carer Reference Groups), provide a collaborative space for carers to work alongside out-of-home care (OOHC) staff from both non-government agencies and the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ). Through these groups, carers actively contribute to improving foster, relative and kinship care in NSW.  

My Forever Family NSW supports this process by gathering insights, tracking key issues and trends and working with DCJ to influence policy and practice changes. CAGs offer a localised and meaningful way for carers to have a voice in decision-making and service improvements.

Join your local CAG to help improve:

  • carer support
  • recruitment
  • retention
  • advocacy

Local voices

There’s a CAG near you! There are five CAGs in NSW representing DCJ districts, providing carers with a platform to share feedback on issues that matter in their region.

Join one of the following CAGs and be part of the change:

Sydney – Western Sydney & Nepean/ Blue Mountains, Sydney, South Eastern Sydney & Northern Sydney and South Western Sydney

Hunter – Hunter & Central Coast

Southern – Illawarra Shoalhaven & Southern NSW

Northern – Mid North Coast, Northern NSW & New England

Western -Murrumbidgee, Far West & Western NSW

How do I join a Carer Advisory Group?

If you’re an authourised foster, guardian, grandparent or kinship carer in NSW, we want to hear from you. CAGs welcome carers from all backgrounds and experiences. Your insights help shape better support, policies and services for foster, relative and kinship care.

Find out more about the groups and what’s involved by downloading the CAG Terms of Reference.

Once we’ve received your expression of interest, one of our team will get in touch to discuss your application.

Are you interested in having your voice heard?  Please complete an expression of interest form and submit. 

Should you have any questions regarding the CAGs please email careradvisorygroup@myforeverfamily.org.au.

Carer Representatives

Each CAG has a nominated Carer Representative to represent the group at higher level meetings and forums. They are also relied upon to disseminate the views of other carers as required.

Please contact careradvisorygroup@myforeverfamily.org.au for information on your Carer Representative.