Types of Foster Care

A foster carer provides a safe, caring home for children and young people who are temporarily unable to live with their birth family. At MacKillop, foster care can take many forms, including emergency, short-term, long-term or part-time (respite), among others.Children in foster care often have experienced trauma or other challenges, so the role of foster care includes more than just providing a bed. It also involves helping them heal, grow, build relationships, and keeping connections to their culture and family where possible.

Foster parenting is the act of opening your home and life to care for a child or young person when their birth family cannot do so for a time. A foster parent (or foster carer) supports daily living needs, including bed, meals, schooling, as well as emotional, social and developmental needs. MacKillop foster parents are trained, assessed and accredited to provide that care. They work as part of a team that includes caseworkers, health professionals, and sometimes educators, helping the child feel safe, supported and understood.

To become a foster carer with MacKillop you begin by making an enquiry, either through their online form or by phone. You’ll attend an information session to learn about what’s involved. MacKillop then works through the steps you need to take to become a foster carer, which include training, mandatory screening (background checks, home safety), and assessment to ensure you’re ready to support a child or young person. Once approved, you’ll choose what type of foster care suits you best, whether emergency, short-term, long-term or respite, and MacKillop offers ongoing support, training, and resources throughout your fostering journey.

Foster care is important because it gives vulnerable children and young people a safe place to live when their families are unable to care for them. It ensures that their basic needs are met while also providing emotional support, stability and encouragement at a time when they may feel uncertain or alone. Foster care can be life-changing, helping children stay connected to community and culture, succeed in school, and build the confidence they need for the future.

As part of the assessment process, foster carers can talk about their preferences for the age and gender of the children they feel best equipped to care for. This helps match placements to a carer’s household, lifestyle and experience. While flexibility is encouraged to meet the needs of children, MacKillop works with carers to ensure placements are a good fit for both the child and the carer’s family.

Yes. It’s important that children coming into a foster carer’s home have their own space. We require carers to have one spare bedroom that has a window and door. The only exception to this is when caring for babies under the age of 18 months.

Yes. However, there needs to be a full-time carer at home with the baby. This is important because babies have already experienced the trauma of separation from their family, so placing them in childcare is not in their best interest.

This depends on whether you’re located in Victoria, NSW or WA as the legislation varies between states.

In Victoria, foster care is geared towards reuniting children with their birth families. If you’re interested in adoption or permanent care in Victoria you’re best to contact Fostering Connections on 1800 013 088 to ask about agencies which provide permanent care options.

Foster care in WA operates very similar to how it does in Victoria. If you’re interested in adoption or permanent care, please contact the Department of Child Protection (DCP) on 1800 182 178. There are options for permanent care or guardianship in NSW with MacKillop. Please enquire online or call us on 1300 791 677 to find out more.

If you have a partner, both of you will need to complete training with MacKillop. This involves two full days of classroom hours. After you complete our training program, you’ll be fully equipped with the skills and knowledge you need to become a foster carer.

Training is followed by an assessment period where MacKillop staff come to your home to discuss a series of topics to determine if you are suitable to provide care to vulnerable children and young people. The assessment phase usually entails three to five interviews in your home.

Whether you’re in a relationship or single is not important. Whether you can provide a safe and loving home is the most important thing. Working full time is not a barrier to becoming a foster carer, however some flexibility with your work is required.

Yes. We welcome lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, gender diverse and intersex people at our services. Children in care may also identify as LGBTIQA+ and require carers who are understanding, accepting and nurturing of their identity.