Why kinship care matters
Sometimes, children can’t stay with their parents due to safety concerns. During this time, kinship care steps in as the first option. By placing children with extended family or familiar adults, we reduce the emotional impact of being away from their parents while ensuring they stay connected to their roots and relationships.
Kinship care is about more than just a safe home. It also helps children feel secure, supported, and loved in an environment that’s familiar to them.
Who can be a kinship carer?
Kinship carers are usually extended family members or close friends, such as:
- Grandparents
- Aunts, uncles, or adult siblings
- Cousins or great-aunts/uncles
- Close family friends.
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, kinship carers may also include members of their community or language group to honour their cultural heritage.
Carers need to demonstrate they can provide a safe, stable home and meet the child’s emotional and physical needs.
Why become a kinship carer?
Children in kinship care often feel a greater sense of belonging and security. Research shows that this type of placement leads to better outcomes for children, including:
- Stronger family and cultural connections: Kinship care helps children stay close to their heritage and identity.
- Improved emotional well-being: Familiarity fosters comfort, reducing the trauma of separation.
- Greater stability: Children placed with kin often experience fewer disruptions in their care.
- Easier family ties: Staying connected with siblings, parents, and other family members is simpler with kinship care.
- Positive mental and behavioural health: Familiar surroundings help children thrive emotionally and socially.
Kinship care isn’t just about providing a roof over a child’s head—it’s about creating a nurturing space where they can feel loved, supported, and connected to who they are.
Resources for carer support
Foster care payments
Financial allowances to cover the daily costs of care, with additional support for children with higher or complex needs.
Training and support
Comprehensive training and ongoing support to equip carers with the skills and resources they need to provide quality care.
Carer benefits
Receive 24/7 on-call support, training and access to carer support networks to help you feel connected and supported.
Respite care
Provides primary carers with a chance to recharge, while giving children positive experiences and respite carers valuable learning opportunities.
Find out more about foster and kinship care in Queensland
The journey to becoming a foster or kinship carer can take months, even years. Every journey is unique and we’re here to help you every step of the way.
We’ve prepared this information kit to help you get started. It includes:
- Key FAQs that you may have
- Introduction to the different types of care
- Some of the reasons why children end up in out of home care
- The training, support and finance provided to you
- How we assist in keeping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children connected to their culture.
Kinship Care Resources
Frequently asked questions
In Queensland’s child protection system, kinship care prioritises placing children with people they already know and trust, but the rules are the same as for foster care: carers must be assessed, able to provide a safe and stable home, support the child’s culture and relationships, and work with Child Safety and Anglicare on case plans, contact arrangements and ongoing training and reviews.
In practice, kinship care often falls into two broad categories: relative kinship care, where the child lives with extended family members such as grandparents, aunts, uncles or older siblings; and non-relative kinship care, where the carer is a close family friend or trusted community member. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, kin can also include community or cultural connections, not just blood relatives.
Kinship care allows children to remain connected to their heritage, community, and established relationships, which often reduces trauma and improves long-term outcomes. Children typically settle more quickly in familiar environments. Anglicare supports kinship carers through training, case work and financial assistance, helping them navigate Child Safety requirements while maintaining a sense of continuity and stability for the child.
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