Respite foster care

There are many foster care options available. You may choose to be a part-time or a full-time carer, depending on your lifestyle and family arrangements. We can work with you to work out what would work best for you. If you have a family, it’s important to consider their needs in the decision making process.

Respite carers support long term carers by giving them a break. They may have the children for a weekend or for a few weeks.

Yes definitely! Caring for children is an extremely rewarding and fulfilling experience. However we know it can, at times, be demanding. So it’s important to us that you take the time to recharge and take a break.

We’re here to support you and will work with you to book in regular or one off breaks so you get the time you need.

Foster carers in Queensland receive a government Fortnightly Carer Allowance to help cover day-to-day costs such as food, clothing, transport and school activities. The amount depends on the child’s age and needs and is regularly indexed. Anglicare also connects carers with extra supports and one-off payments where eligible, so you are not left carrying the financial load alone.

The basic Foster Carer Allowance is paid fortnightly and is designed to meet the reasonable costs of caring, not to provide a wage. Higher needs, complex behaviours or additional responsibilities may attract top-ups or supplementary payments. When you enquire with Anglicare, we explain the current Queensland rates in detail and help you understand how allowances, reimbursements and other supports fit your household budget.

Respite care itself is usually short term – often a weekend, a few days or occasional school holidays – but some carers later choose longer-term roles. In Queensland, long-term foster placements commonly continue until at least 18, and Anglicare placements can sometimes extend to around 21 to support a safe transition into adulthood where appropriate.

Children and young people can be in care right through their teens, and in Queensland most formal orders end around 18, with some extended support beyond this. Anglicare works with babies, children and adolescents, matching you with ages and needs that suit your family. We focus on whether you can offer a safe, stable home rather than a strict “maximum age” for children.

Our person-centred approach means we work with you to find out how foster caring can fit with your lifestyle. We connect with you at every stage of your foster care journey, supporting and connecting you to training so you will have the skills you need to be a great carer. We also offer resources and access to wider community groups.

If you decide to take the foster care journey, a Foster Care Case Practitioner will be with you every step of the way. The role of a Case Practitioner is to recruit, train, assess, and support foster carers. 

Case Practitioners are also responsible for matching children with an appropriate foster family. Case Practitioners are part of a wider team who also provide intensive support to children and carers.

Almost anyone who wants to make a difference in a child’s life can become a foster carer. 

To be eligible to apply, you’ll need to be at least 18 years of age. You also need to commit to home safety and personal background checks, as well as foster care training, so you have the skills you need to be a great carer.

Many people rule themselves out and think they can’t apply. It doesn’t matter if you are single, male or female, in a same sex partnership, have other children at home or no children at all. What matters is your passion to make a difference.