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How to become a Victorian 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 Victoria are available and much-needed. To discover what foster care could look like for you and your family, read our guide below.

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 birth family. These children have often experienced trauma, so foster care is designed to meet their unique needs and circumstances.

Foster care can work a few different ways. You can provide short-term emergency accommodation or a longer-term home for a child, depending on what is right for you. 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 to an information session, or call 1300 791 677.

Complete enquiry form Register to an information session

Types of care in Victoria

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 peoplefor 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.

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 Victoria?

Get in touch with us!

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

Have a chat to understand more about becoming a carer

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

Home visit

Someone from our team will then visit you in your home. This is your opportunity to ask us anything you still want to know about foster care, and it’s our chance to get to know you and learn about your motivations. If you want to take the next step and we think you’re ready, we will go through the mandatory application forms like Police and Working With Children Checks and invite you to training.

Training

Our qualified workers facilitate the foster care training, ‘Shared Lives’, which is the statewide framework. 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

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

Become a foster carer

A decision-making panel may accredit you as a foster carer at this time. Once you are accredited, we’ll match you with a child. You’ll receive ongoing case work support as you step into this incredible and important role.


What can I expect as a foster carer

Training

Your learning support continues even after you start fostering. To help you continue feeling confident about looking after the child in your care, all MacKillop foster carers have access to trauma-informed training, including trauma theory, attachment theory and the Sanctuary model. MacKillop also has a Carer Learning Hub available 24/7 for resources, learning, and professional development for carers.

Financial Support

You’ll receive regular payments from your state government which goes towards covering some of the costs of foster care – 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. See the Victorian government’s website for the rate of payments in Victoria.

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 through support groups and mentoring programs
  • MacKillop newsletters with information and resources for foster carers
  • Tax free financial allowance to help cover the cost of care.
Find out more about our support for foster carers

Foster Care FAQs

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 strong peer connections 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.

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.