What Is Foster Care

What is a foster carer and foster child?

A foster carer is an approved carer who opens their home to a child in need. The foster child meaning refers to any young person under 18 placed in safe, out-of-home care. We provide tailored family support services to assist carers and children throughout this time.

Our Family Support Services

How does foster care work?

The system matches children with approved carers based on specific needs. Our flexible care options let you choose a style of care that fits your lifestyle:

Care Type	Duration	Primary Focus
Emergency	Up to a few weeks	Immediate safety
Respite	Weekends/holidays	Carer relief
Short-term	Up to two years	Reunification
Long-term	Until adulthood	Stability

What is the difference between adoption and foster care?

The primary difference is fostering can start relatively quickly after your authorisation is complete. Adoption can take a lot longer as children and young people need to be on final orders and have parental agreement and court approval prior to being able to be placed into an adoptive placement.

Foster care

Emergency and short-term foster care: The Minister holds legal parental responsibility while the focus is on supporting the child or young person and, where possible, helping them return safely to their birth family.
Long-term foster care: The Minister continues to hold legal parental responsibility while the child or young person remains in a stable foster care placement, often until they turn 18.

Foster care can sometimes lead to longer-term arrangements, such as:

Permanency: The child or young person remains in the care of their foster family on a long-term basis, while legal parental responsibility stays with the Minister.
Guardianship: Legal parental responsibility transfers from the Minister to the foster carer, giving the carer greater responsibility for the child or young person’s day-to-day and long-term needs.
Adoption: Legal parental responsibility transfers to the adoptive parent or parents, creating a permanent legal family relationship.

Adoption

Adoption is a permanent care arrangement that creates a new legal family relationship for a child or young person. It involves a formal legal process and is considered when adoption is determined to be the most appropriate long-term option for their circumstances.

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Why Become A Foster Carer?

Becoming a foster carer is a meaningful and rewarding experience that creates lasting impact — not only for children, but for carers and their families as well.

Make A Real Difference

Provide a safe and supportive home that helps children build confidence, stability, and a brighter future.

Ongoing Support & Training

You’re never alone — receive professional guidance, training, and 24/7 support from an experienced team.

Flexible Care Options

Choose the type of care that suits your lifestyle, from short-term and respite care to long-term placements.

Emotional & Personal Reward

Experience the joy and fulfillment of helping a child grow, develop, and thrive in a safe environment.

Financial & Practical Support

Receive allowances and resources to help support the child and your household needs.

The Family Spirit Process

Becoming a foster carer is a meaningful and rewarding experience that creates lasting impact — not only for children, but for carers and their families as well. We’re here to support and guide you through each stage of this transition.

Step 01

Join A Foster Care Information Session

Start by joining one of our foster care information sessions, where you can learn more about the different types of care, what fostering involves and what to expect from the process.

Step 02

Talk to our team

If you’d like to speak with someone personally about the process, discuss your individual circumstances or clarify any information, our team is here to help. Call us on 13 18 19 and we’ll be happy to talk things through with you.

Step 03

Complete your application and begin the process

When you’re ready to move forward, the next step is to complete your application form and begin the assessment process. This includes probity checks, completing a health checklist, taking part in Shared Lives training sessions and providing information about your life story and circumstances.

Step 04

Take part in an assessment

As part of the authorisation process, you’ll complete an assessment with a trained assessor. Once this is finished, your information will be presented to our authorisation panel, who will determine your authorisation and identify any additional training that may be helpful.

Step 05

Prepare to welcome a child into your home

Once authorised, you’ll take part in an induction to foster caring, including training and further guidance about what happens next. We’ll help you understand the process of welcoming your first foster child(ren) into your home so you can feel informed and prepared for this important next step.

Start Your Journey

Open Your Heart and Home for a Child

Every child deserves a safe, loving environment to grow and thrive. By welcoming a vulnerable child into your home, you provide the stability they need to flourish. As trusted foster care providers in Sydney, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. If you’re ready to make a lasting difference, become a foster carer with us today. Our compassionate team is always here to support you on this incredibly rewarding journey.

Become a Foster Carer

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean to be a foster carer?

Being a foster carer means caring for someone else’s child in your own home, but not being the child’s legal guardian.

Why do children need foster care?

Children and young people need care because they are unable to live with their birth families. The reasons vary and include physical abuse, neglect of basic needs, parental mental illness, domestic violence, disability or family crisis, and lack of family supports.

How do I know if I could be a foster carer?

Foster carers need to be over the age of 21 and in good health. You should also be able to provide a safe, stable and caring home environment, and most of all you should enjoy caring for children and young people.

To speak to someone about you personal circumstances and desire to care, please call us on 13 18 19 or contact us online.

What makes a good foster carer?

Ideally a good foster carer will:

- have a strong a commitment to children and young people
- be patient, flexible and resilient
- have good communication skills
- have the ability to work collaboratively and in the best interests of the child/children
- be able to meet the needs of a child, including supporting them to maintain relationships with their families
- have a willingness to learn

If you’d like to know more about becoming a foster carer, please contact us online or register to attend an upcoming information session.

How does Family Spirit support foster carers?

Each Family Spirit foster carer is allocated a case manager who provides support and supervision through regular home visits and phone calls.

Carers and their families also have access to the Family Spirit Care for the Carer package which includes:

- Initial and ongoing training
- Access to our Carer Assistance Program which includes free counselling support for each family member
- 24-hour on call support
- Scholarships to systemic Sydney Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Sydney
- Financial support
- Monthly newsletterSocial events for carers and families

Find out more about the training and support on offer.

What type of care is required?

The type of care required will depend on the need of each child or young person. Care options include:

- Emergency care: being available 24-hours a day for a child in crisis
- Respite care: short stays that provide parents or foster carers with a much needed break
- Short term care: providing care for a period of time while working with families for the safe return of the child to their family
- Kinship care: caring for a child that is related to you
- Long term care: providing permanent foster care for a child until they are 18 years of age. This can include guardianship and adoption, where it is appropriate for the child or young person
- Pre-adoptive care: caring for newborn babies while the birth parents consider adoption

Find out more about our flexible care options.

Is support available to my own children if we become foster carers?

Family Spirit recognises the importance of supporting the whole family. Your children are included in the process to ensure they are comfortable with their family caring for other children and young people.

Do I need a big house to be a carer?

Your home needs to be child friendly and safe. You will need to provide the child/ren with their own bed, but they can share a bedroom with a sibling, but not with an adult or one of your children.

To find out more about becoming a carer and what’s involved, register for an upcoming information session.

Will I receive financial assistance?

All carers receive a tax-free allowance to help cover day-to-day expenses for the child such as food, clothing, education, travel and leisure activities.

Do I need to pay school fees for my foster child?

If your foster child attends a systemic Sydney Catholic School in the Archdiocese of Sydney you have access to a bursary that covers school fees. This applies to primary and secondary school students.

Can I foster if I’m single?

Yes, we welcome applications from people who are single, with or without children, as well as couples in stable relationships. We will help you explore your network of family and friends to support you.

Can I work and become a foster carer?

Yes, we understand that people may need to work alongside caring for a child. Talk to us about this and we can help you to consider what kinds of care might be most appropriate for you. Our team is available on 13 18 19 (Mon – Fri 9am – 5pm) or you can contact us online.

Can I foster a child if I have my own children?

Yes you can. We ask that your youngest child is two years older than a foster child to ensure the needs of both children can be met.

What if I want to adopt a child that I foster?

In some cases this may be possible if this is in the best interests of the child. As an accredited adoptions agency, Family Spirit is able to train and authorise carers to become both foster carers and adoptive parents.

How does the application process work?

Family Spirit takes a personal approach with each application by taking into account individual circumstances. The first step is to call us on 13 18 19 or submit an online enquiry so we can guide you through the steps.

What are my rights and responsibilities as a foster carer?

As a foster carer, you have the right to:

- Be valued in your role as a carer and be treated with respect
- Receive training and support from Family Spirit
- Receive clear directions around the requirements of Family Spirit
- Access the personal information Family Spirit holds on your fileBe provided with information about Family Spirit’s complaints process

As a foster carer, you are responsible for:

- Following the carer code of conduct and policies of Family Spirit
- Respecting a child’s connection to their birth family, and supporting contact with them
- Assisting the child with maintaining connections with their culture and to practice their religion
- Following the behaviour management policy of the agency
- Ensuring the child’s health and educational needs are met
- Working with the case plan for the child and communicating with the agency regarding the child’s needs