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How to become a NSW foster carer

Foster caring is one of the most important and rewarding roles you can play in your community. You can help shape the life of a child or young person by bringing safety, stability and love when they need it most.

Foster care opportunities in New South Wales are available and much needed. Keep reading to discover what foster care could look like for you and your family.

What is foster care?

When you become a foster carer, you’re helping to create a world where children in need can receive security, safety, and love. Foster care provides a nurturing home environment to children and young people that are not currently able to live with their family. These children have often experienced trauma, so foster care is designed to meet their individual needs and circumstances.

Foster care can look a few different ways. You would be providing a home to a child or young person that could be for a short period of time or where needed, a longer period of time a home to a child on an emergency, arrangement depending on what is right for you and your family. To become a foster carer, you’ll need to be trained, assessed and accredited. This process involves several screening checks, but we’ll be there through every step. There are also a few requirements to qualify to be a foster carer – but the most important thing is a desire to give a safe and caring home to young people and children.

If you would like to know more and discuss the options available to you, please complete our enquiry form, register for an information sessions or call 1300 791 677.

Complete enquiry form Register to an information session

Types of care in NSW

Emergency

An emergency carer provides a home for a child or young person at short notice. An emergency carer will support the child or young person's immediate needs, whilst alternate care arrangements are being sorted.

Short-term

A short-term carer looks after children and young people for up to two years while, a plan is being put in place for the child or young person to be reunited with their parents or guardians.

Long term

Long term care provides much needed stability, safety and security for a vulnerable child or young person who cannot return home for a longer period (if at all). These children or young people may need support for a period of years, or until they reach adulthood.

Part-time care (Respite care)

A part-time carer provides planned care for a short period of time (typically one or two weekends a month). This care provides crucial support to the child or young person’s parents, guardians or regular foster carers and allows the child or young person to experience a different home environment.

Live-in carer

For children with more complex needs, live-in carers provide care in a MacKillop residential home for children and young people (up to three at a time). Live-in carers provide practical day-to-day support and see to each young person’s unique living needs.

Guardianship

A guardianship carer has full parental responsibility for a child or young person until they reach the age of 18. This type of care is permanent, and carers maintain legal ties to the child or young person’s birth family.

Kinship/relative

A kinship carer is a family relative or member of a child’s social network, community or connection who can provide care and stability for children who cannot live with their parents. Social familiarity can help prevent trauma of being placed in unfamiliar environments, and kinship care supports family preservation.

Who can be a foster carer?

Like the children they support, foster carers have diverse backgrounds and life stories – they may be single or partnered, own or rent their home, be studying, stay at home or retired, and already have children or not. Foster carers can also come from any culture or religion.

What really counts is the desire to provide a loving, secure and safe home for vulnerable children and young people. To create a foster family, you’ll be compassionate, resilient, and understand that every child or young person has individual needs. A good sense of humour goes far too! In order to become a carer, you will need the following:

  • Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
  • Be at least 21 years of age
  • Have a spare room in your home for a child or young person
  • Have Police and Working with children checks (we’ll help you obtain these)
  • Complete a health check, referee checks, and a home and environment check (we’ll help you with these checks)
  • Complete training to prepare you to become an authorised carer
  • Undertake thorough assessments (we’ll be there to help you with this).
Become a foster carer today

What is the process to becoming a foster carer in NSW?

Get in touch with us!

Complete our online enquiry form or call us on 1300 791 677.

Have a chat to understand more about foster caring

During our initial conversation, we’ll explain the foster care system and the ways that you can become a part of it. If you are interested to know more, we’ll arrange to come to your house and talk in person.

Home visit

Next, someone from our team will visit you in your home. This is your opportunity to ask us more questions about foster care, and it’s also our chance to get to know you and learn about your interest in foster caring. If you want to take the next step and we think you’re ready, we will proceed with the mandatory application forms like Police and Working With Children Checks and invite you to training.

Training

Our qualified workers will facilitate your foster care training ‘Shared Stories, Shared Lives’, which is the statewide framework in New South Wales. The training modules provide up-to-date information about fostering children. You will also receive a comprehensive range of resources, to support you throughout your foster care journey. We run training regularly.

Interview process

Once training is complete, we’ll meet with you approximately four times. In these assessment interviews, we’ll discuss your life, how MacKillop can support you as a foster carer, how you would respond to certain situations, and the types of foster care that fits you best.

Become a foster carer

After training and interviews, a panel of MacKillop staff as well as external stakeholders/partners may accredit you as a foster carer. Once you are accredited, you’re ready to step into one of your life’s most fulfilling roles. We’ll match you with a child and from there you’ll receive ongoing case work support.


What can I expect as a foster carer

Training

Training support doesn’t end once you’re an accredited foster carer. To ensure that you continue to feel confident about creating a foster family, all MacKillop foster carers have access to trauma-informed training, including trauma theory, attachment theory and the Sanctuary model.

Financial support

The NSW State government provides regular payments to cover some of the costs of caring for a child – such as food, utilities, clothing, school needs, recreational activities, medical and dental costs.

Foster care payments are tax-free. The government determines the rates, which vary depending on the child’s age and needs. You can find the rate of payments in NSW here on the state website.

Support

At MacKillop, we work with you to help provide the best care to foster kids possible. As an accredited Sanctuary organisation, we recognise that trauma also affects the carers who work with traumatised people, so our support includes:

  • comprehensive and flexible training courses
  • ongoing support from a designated case worker
  • flexibility on the type of care, eg short term long term or part-time, and the age of the child you care for
  • support to manage disabilities and other needs of the child
  • cultural support for both the child and carers
  • access to a team of specialists
  • an after-hours call service
  • support to help you plan your foster child’s care
  • access to part-time care (respite care) for your foster child when you need a break
  • links to other MacKillop foster carers in your area
  • MacKillop newsletters with information and resources for foster carers.
Find out more about our support for foster carers

Foster Care FAQs

MacKillop provides on-call support, a dedicated caseworker, and access to a specialist therapeutic team. Carers also receive ongoing training and resources to build their confidence and skills.

Yes, carers receive a tax-free allowance from the state government to help with the cost of raising a child. This covers essentials like food, clothing, school supplies, and activities. The amount varies depending on the child’s needs and the type of care provided.

Carers are trained in trauma-informed/therapeutic approaches to help support children or young people who have experienced trauma. MacKillop also offers workshops, clinical advice, and behaviour management strategies tailored to each child. Therapeutic care programs include access to psychological and educational specialists. Carers are never left to manage on their own.

Yes. MacKillop encourages connecting with other foster carers through mentoring, carer networks, and regular events. New carers are supported by experienced foster carers who share advice and lived experience. Online and in-person opportunities help foster a sense of community and connection.