Who Can Become An Approved Carer?
Because children and young people who require foster care placements have a diverse range of needs, a diverse range of carers are required to meet their needs.
Some Benefits of Fostering
- Making a difference in a child or young persons life
- Assisting a family in need
- Supporting your local community
- Linking with like minded people
- Working as part of a team
- Ongoing learning and development
- Thinking outside the square
- Challenging yourself
- Satisfaction from knowing that you are putting your skills to good use
Approved Carers May:
- Be Indigenous or no Indigenous
- Come from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
- Be young or mature aged
- Be single or in a couple relationship
- Have or not have children of their own
- Be working in a full, part time or voluntary capacity or not be engaged in paid or unpaid work
Approved carers live their lives in accordance with their own values and beliefs and engage in a variety of social, recreational and other activities.
What else is involved?
People wishing to become approved foster carers are required to undergo personal and criminal history checks, participate in an assessment of suitability process and a competency based training program.
How do I Become An Approved Foster Carer
Being a foster carer also involves:
- Insight into the individual needs of children and young people who have experienced abuse and neglect.
- Working as part of a care team including the young people placed in your care.
- Being open to ongoing learning and development.
- Having an abundance of patience and good humour.
What Are My Care Options?
You can nominate the gender and an age range of children and young people that best fit with your personal and family situation. You can also nominate preferred care options.
Care options include:
- Foster Carer
- Kinship Carer
- Emergency placement
- Short Term placement
- Long Term placement
- Respite care