Wonderful!

If you’re over 18, you could be suitable for some types of foster and kinship care. If you’re under 18, there are still ways you can support children in need, including volunteering your time, making care packages for children who are less fortunate or raising money for children in care with your school or local sports club. These are just some of the ways you could make an impact.

Fantastic!

You’d be suitable to provide all types of care, from weekend/respite and emergency to short or longer term care.

You’d make a great carer!

If you have a desire to make a difference to the life of a child and are healthy enough to provide consistent care then you are the perfect carer. In fact, many retired and older couples are able to fill the ‘empty nest’ by caring for children and young people in need and their wealth of life experience makes them fantastic mentors.

No worries!

Anyone can apply to be a foster carer with us, regardless of relationship status or sexual orientation.

Anyone can apply to be a foster carer with Anglicare, regardless of relationship status or sexual orientation.

You could be single, male or female, married, in a hetero or same-sex relationship, have other children in the home or have no children at all. The most important thing is that you are willing to provide a supportive, positive and caring environment to a child or young person in need.

Great!

We welcome carers from all backgrounds, cultures and experiences. Foster carers can be married, single or same-sex couples, with or without children, divorced or de facto.

That’s great!

It’s important that children and young people in care have access to a safe and a secure place.

It is not necessary that you own your own home.

If you are renting you may need to seek approval from your real estate or agency to have an additional child or young person in the home.

That’s great!

We have carers that are home full time which enables them to provide a variety of caring arrangements including primary, respite and emergency care.

That’s fine!

We will discuss the different types of foster care that might suit your personal circumstances.

Many parents work full time and have children – foster parenting is much the same.

All that matters is that you have a desire to make a positive change in a child or young person’s life. In addition to this, emergency and respite carers are an integral part of the foster system so if you can’t commit to a permanent carer position but want to make a difference, this may be the perfect solution. Emergency carers can take in vulnerable children overnight while we find a more permanent solution. Respite carers give permanent carers a respite and act as another positive influence in their lives.

That’s great!

You’re eligible to become a foster carer!

That’s great!

You’re eligible to become a foster carer!

That’s great!

You’re eligible to become a foster carer!

Okay!

As part of the approval process you will be asked to complete a history check and disclose any criminal history. If you are unsure whether your criminal record will impact upon your fostering application then speak with our team members who can advise you of what the outcome may be.

Okay!

As part of the approval process you will be asked to complete a history check and disclose any criminal history.

Okay!

As part of the approval process you will be asked to complete a history check and disclose any criminal history. If you are unsure whether your criminal record will impact upon your fostering application then speak with our team members who can advise you of what the outcome may be.

That’s great!

Our carers often lead busy, active lives so it’s important to ensure your health is good and you have great self-care strategies.

Okay!

Any health issues that could impact on the well-being of a child or the prospective foster carer’s ability to provide a high standard of care may be cause for a foster carer application to be rejected. This is particularly true in instances where a prospective foster carer may have a terminal illness, or a condition such as arthritis or an on-going back injury, which may directly impact their ability to care for a child in care.

That’s okay!

If you have any specific health issues that may impact your ability to provide care please speak with our team who can talk you through your options.

No worries!

You don’t have to have children to be a foster carer. We provide training to equip you with the skills you need to succeed on your foster care journey.

That’s okay!

Many of our foster carers have children of their own and find the experience of foster care is rewarding for the whole family – some of their children make friends for life! It’s important that your children are included in the decision to become foster carers as this decision will impact your entire household.

Okay!

If you are currently undertaking fertility treatment then we recommend families wait between 6-12months from the last treatment prior to commencing the fostering process. If you are a prospective adoptive parent we are unable to progress your application due to adoption agency requirements.

Great!

Children and young people in foster care need a space where they feel like they belong. As part of this, foster children need to have their own bedroom. Sibling groups can share a bedroom but we ask that children who aren’t related have their own room. It is possible for a foster child to share a bedroom in respite care. Most importantly, a desire to make a difference in the life of a young person is the biggest requirement – we’ll help you negotiate the rest.

Okay!

It is good for the child in care to feel a sense of their own space and privacy. By providing the child with their own space, it will help them relax and feel safe and comfortable in their new home.

Ideally the child will have their own room, however in some circumstances it may be appropriate and okay for them to share. It really depends on what would work best for your family and the child.

We understand your living circumstances may be subject to change (particularly if you are renting), so if you think you may have space for a child in the near future we’d be happy to hear from you to start you on your journey.