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Great!

You must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident to become a foster carer.

No

Unfortunately,  you need to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident to become a foster carer. Thanks so much for your interest.

You could be a wonderful foster carer. 

We need carers of all ages. If you are in good health and able to provide a safe, stable, and loving home environment, you could be a wonderful foster carer.

Great!

We have foster carers in their twenties, as well as some in their seventies and older, each carer brings different skills and life experiences, which we truly value.

We’re delighted that you’re passionate about helping a child or teenager in need.

If you’re 18 – 20 years old, you may be interested in volunteering with us in our other programs and services like our Food Programs or Refugee Hub. At this time, we do not take general foster carers in this age group.

However, if you’re applying to care for a member of your family such as little brother or sister, this is called kinship care and we will consider your application if you are 18 years or over. (please fill out our Kinship form here)

There are a few more questions after this, but we take your details here because we need them to follow up...

Yes

It’s important for a child or teenager in your care to have privacy and their own space, so they feel safe and secure in a new household.

No

We require foster carers to have a spare room for a child or teenager coming into their care as this helps them feel safe and secure in a new household. As this is a requirement for children in care, we are happy to discuss this further with you and explore your options for rooms and accommodating a young person in care.

Yes, full-time

Being a full-time employee will not prevent you from becoming a great foster carer.

Something to consider is that children in care, like all children, do require your time and attention. Bearing this in mind, respite care might be the best care option for you. Respite carers provide care for children and teenagers for short periods of time, such as on weekends or during school holidays.However, if you or your partner have flexible working arrangements or work from home you may be eligible for other types of care. We can discuss with you what will best suit you and the needs of the child/young person.

Yes, Part-time 

You will suit some types of foster care, we can discuss this with you.

No 

We have carers that are home full-time allowing them to provide all different types of care and support to children and teenagers in care.

Single 

We welcome carers from all walks of life, regardless of religion, age, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, or disability.

In a relationship 

We encourage anyone to become a foster carer regardless of age, gender, cultural background or religion. However, if you are in a relationship, we will require both you and your partner to go through the background checks and training together.

Yes 

We recommend you speak to a Carer Assessment and Placement Coordinator regarding which age groups may work well for your individual circumstances.

No 

Great! You could suit all different types of foster care.If you and your partner are planning to start a family of your own either now or in the future, we would encourage you to mention this in your application.

No 

It’s a legal requirement for you and other household members to undergo a criminal record check before becoming a foster carer.

Having a criminal record does not automatically disqualify you or a family member from being a foster carer. However, there are criminal convictions that do prevent people from fostering such as offences against children, sexual offences, and a history of violence.

Minor offences (such as some types of driving offences) should not count against you in your application to become a foster carer, patterns of behavior may be considered.

Yes

Great! You can apply for any type of foster care.

When we receive you’re application we will request background checks including Working with Children Check on all members of your household aged 16 years and over.

The next questions relate to our child safety obligations.

CatholicCare Social Services Hunter-Manning has an absolute and abiding commitment to promote the safety, welfare and wellbeing of all children and vulnerable adults.

Yes

We appreciate your honesty, thank you. We take child safety very seriously and need to ensure the safety of all the children we place in care. Unfortunately, at this stage we cannot progress your enquiry.

If you have any further questions, please contact us on 1300 590 898.

No

Great! We have an obligation to make sure children and teenagers in our care are safe and that their needs are met; we take this responsibility very seriously. If there is anything or anyone that might put a child or teenager at risk, we need to know.

Not Sure

We have an obligation to make sure children and teenagers in our care are safe and have their needs met; we take this responsibility very seriously. If there is anything or anyone that might put a child or teenager at risk, we need to know.

If you are concerned that something may come up in your background checks or as part of your application process, it is best to disclose this at an early stage so we can work with and best advise you.

Agree

Great! This is an important part of being a carer. You may be involved in making a plan for the child or teenager in your care - this is called a case plan. Case plans are developed in consultation with you, the child or teenager in your care, your caseworker, health and other practitioners and birth family, where appropriate.

Working together encourages respect, understanding, active listening, honest communication, shared responsibility for problem-solving and a united focus on the best interests of the child or teenager in care.

Disagree 

This process is an important part of being a carer.  You may be involved in making a plan for the child or teenager in your care, which is called a case plan. Case plans are developed in consultation with you, the child or teenager in your care, your caseworker, health and other practitioners and birth family, where appropriate.

Working together encourages respect, understanding, active listening, honest communication, shared responsibility for problem-solving and a united focus on the best interests of the child or teenager in care.

Agree 

Great! Children and teenagers in care have often experienced some form of trauma, abuse, or neglect and may have been physically hurt by their previous caregivers. We do not encourage any form of physical punishment or discipline, including controlling behaviours, as it poses a risk of psychological harm along with going against the code of conduct and violates the child’s rights. We fully endorse and encourage therapeutic parenting techniques and positive role modelling to manage challenging behaviours.

Disagree 

We do not encourage any form of physical punishment or discipline, including controlling behaviours, it poses a risk of psychological harm along with going against the code of conduct and violates the child’s rights. Children and teenagers in care have often experienced some form of trauma, abuse, or neglect and may have been physically hurt by their previous caregivers. We fully endorse and encourage therapeutic parenting techniques and positive role modelling to manage challenging behaviours. We will explore more of this in our two-day training session of Shared Lives.

Agree 

Children and teenagers in care who are actively supported to maintain a connection to their culture, language and beliefs are able to develop a better sense of belonging and identity, and therefore have better outcomes as they grow up. Helping children and teenagers remain connected to their culture can also help them return to the birth family and community (if this is in the best interest of the child and is deemed safe and appropriate to do so).

Disagree 

This is a really important aspect of supporting a child in care. Children and teenagers in care who are actively supported to maintain a connection to their culture, language and beliefs are able to develop a better sense of belonging and identity and therefore have better outcomes as they grow up. Helping children and teenagers remain connected to their culture can also help them return to the birth family and community (if this is in the best interest of the child and is deemed safe and appropriate to do so).

Agree 

Great! Children that have suffered trauma often go on to have emotional or behavioural difficulties and may need to be parented differently, or therapeutically, so that their specific needs are met. It is a nurturing way of parenting that aims to make a child or teenager feel safe, with the aim of building safe and strong relationships that combine affection and comfort, along with clear behavioural expectations and routines. We provide basic training in relation to therapeutic parenting techniques, so don’t worry you will be supported all the way to do this.

Disagree 

Children that have suffered trauma often go on to have emotional or behavioural difficulties and may need to be parented differently, or therapeutically, so that their specific needs are met. It is a nurturing way of parenting that aims to make a child or teenager feel safe, with the aim of building safe and strong relationships that combine affection and comfort, along with clear behavioural expectations and routines. We provide basic training in relation to therapeutic parenting techniques, so don’t worry you will be supported all the way to do this.