Foster Care Payments

At all stages, we’re here to help you fulfil your role as a carer, however, it’s important that you’re still able to financially support yourself and your family.

The financial support available for your foster child includes Queensland Government payments like the Fortnightly Carers Allowance. The amount you get will depend on a number of factors such as your child’s age. The payment would be expected to meet the basic day to day costs for things like shoes, clothing and so on.

We will work with you so it’s clear from the start as to who has financial responsibility for costs that fall outside the Fortnightly Carers Allowance.

There are also a range of other financial options available you may be able to apply for including:

• caring for children with high support or complex special needs
• if you live in a regional or remote area
• unexpected expenses for example that will come out of the child needing extra support over and above government and other payments (on a case by case basis).

Plus, you can also apply to have pre planned expenses reimbursed through a scheme called ‘Child Related Costs’. This would be in discussion with us and your Child Safety Officer.

These costs are considered on a case by case basis and include things like:

• educational costs for general schooling and vocational training
• healthcare costs including general medical, physical and mental health specialists
• travel costs for visiting family, court attendances and some overseas travel costs (based on Guardian consent for the child to travel)
• recreation costs including leisure and recreational activities including pocket money
• purchase of gifts, hobbies, entertainment, holiday expenses.

If you need to talk to someone, we are always here to help you and you can call us any time day or night through our 24-hour support phone line.

You can read more about the financial support available to carers in our Resources section here.

In Queensland, foster carers receive a fortnightly Caring Allowance that helps cover everyday costs like food, clothing, transport and activities. As of January 2025, rates range from about $623.00 to $729.68 per fortnight, depending on the child’s age and assessed needs. Extra supports may be available for higher needs. Anglicare explains payments in detail during your assessment and training.

The standard Caring Allowance is set by the Queensland Government and adjusted each year. Current 2025 rates (for children placed in approved foster or kinship care) range roughly from $44.50 to $53.55 per day, depending on age and circumstances, paid fortnightly. There are also establishment and extracurricular payments. Anglicare will help you understand which allowances apply to your situation before a child is placed.

The Caring Allowance is calculated based on the child’s age and care type, not your income. Additional support can be approved for higher or complex needs. Rates are reviewed annually by the Queensland Government and paid via Child Safety or the relevant agency. As an Anglicare carer, your practitioner can help you request reassessment if a child’s needs or circumstances change.

Foster and kinship carers don’t earn a “wage”, but they do receive government allowances to help meet the costs of caring for a child. In Queensland, this includes a fortnightly Caring Allowance and other supports such as establishment and extracurricular payments. Anglicare’s role is to walk alongside you—providing training, case work, and peer support—so you’re never managing those responsibilities alone.