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Respite foster care

Respite foster care provides short-term support for children in care while giving their primary carers a well-earned break. Whether it’s for a weekend, a few days, or during school holidays, respite care ensures children continue to feel safe and supported while their foster carers rest and recharge.

If you’re looking for a way to make a meaningful difference but aren’t ready for a full-time foster care commitment, respite care could be the perfect option.

What is respite foster care?

Respite foster care involves caring for a child in foster care on a short-term basis, usually for planned stays, such as weekends or holidays. This gives their long-term carers time to rest while ensuring the child remains in a stable and caring environment.

Respite care is a vital part of foster care, helping foster families maintain their wellbeing while offering children a positive experience with new caregivers. Some respite carers provide regular support to the same child, building a trusted and ongoing relationship.

Almost anyone is eligible to foster a child. Take our quiz to find out if you are eligible.

The goals of respite foster care

Respite foster care plays an important role in supporting children, carers, and the foster care system as a whole. The primary goals include:

  • Supporting foster carers – Giving full-time carers the opportunity to rest and recharge so they can continue providing stable, loving care.
  • Providing children with a new experience – Helping children build resilience by staying with different, trusted adults while maintaining their sense of security.
  • Strengthening the foster care system – Ensuring long-term carers can continue their important work by preventing burnout.

Respite carers are not just stepping in temporarily, they are providing an essential layer of support that helps maintain the stability of children in foster care.

How to become a respite foster carer

Becoming a respite carer follows a similar process to other types of foster care. Our team will guide you every step of the way, from initial enquiries to welcoming your first placement. The process includes:

  1. Expression of interest: Submit your details to start your foster care journey.
  2. Training and assessment: Participate in training sessions to prepare for the role.
  3. Home assessment: Ensure your home is a safe, welcoming environment for a child.
  4. Approval and matching: Once approved, we work with you to find the right child for your family.

Who is eligible to become a foster carer?

Support for respite carers

Fostering a child is a significant commitment, but you won’t be doing it alone. Anglicare Southern Queensland provides comprehensive support, including:

  • 24/7 on-call assistance – Support when you need it, day or night
  • Dedicated caseworkers – Ongoing guidance and advice from experienced professionals
  • Training and development – Access to workshops, courses, and learning opportunities
  • Financial support – Carer allowances to help cover the costs of raising a child
  • Peer support networks – Connect with other foster carers for advice and encouragement.

We ensure you have everything you need to provide the best possible care for the child in your home.

Resources

Are you Eligible?

Almost anyone can become a foster carer. Take our Quiz to find out if you’re eligible.

Take the Quiz

Start Your Journey

Start your foster care journey. Complete our expression of interest to apply to become a foster carer.

Apply Now

10 Facts About Foster Care

There are a lot of foster care myths out there, but what are the facts? Our guide helps you understand.

Download

Foster Care for Families Guide

Fostering is a family commitment and this eGuide supports open conversation about whether fostering is suitable for your family.

Download

Advice for Future Foster Carers

Becoming a foster carer is a pretty incredible thing to do. Enjoy these supportive words and advice from foster carers.

Download

Foster Care Information Kit

There is no right or wrong journey to becoming a foster carer, only your journey. We’re here to help you along that path.

Download

Hear from respite carers

Foster carers play a life-changing role in a child’s life. Read about the experiences of real foster carers and the incredible impact they’ve made.

AIan

“Even though I’m working, a full-time dad, plus a foster carer who also offers respite care, I still manage to play sport regularly. When I get the chance, I love heading off on my own on my motorbike.”

Start your foster care journey today

Becoming a respite foster carer is an opportunity to change a child’s life forever. If you’re ready to take the first step, express your interest here or contact us at 1300 610 610.

Frequently asked questions

What is 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.

Why choose Anglicare Southern Queensland?

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.

What is the role of the Foster Care Case Practitioner?

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.

Who can be a foster carer?

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.

What is Anglicare’s purpose?

  • We’ve been caring for Queenslanders for over 150 years
  • We connect with people at every stage of life and respond with compassion and humility
  • Our team is experienced, dedicated and equipped to help
  • We advocate to inform positive social change
  • Our vision is to create a more loving, just and inclusive society.

Contact Us

Submit this form or call us to learn more about foster care at Anglicare. Our team is available between 9am and 5pm weekdays on 1300 000 828

Foster & Kinship Care Enquiry

Got questions?

If you have questions about becoming a foster carer, please call us or download our comprehensive guide.

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