Anyone can become a foster carer; however, they need to meet a certain criteria to be eligible. This means you need to be over the age of 21, have a spare bedroom with a window available for a child or to accommodate two beds for a sibling group. It is important to note that this bedroom cannot be shared with any biological children. Additionally, a foster carer needs to be a permanent resident or citizen. However, if you are on a visa in Australia and want to begin this journey, get in touch with MacKillop and they can discuss it with you further - it may still be possible for you to become a foster carer.
If you have been thinking about becoming a foster care, it is important to be aware of how placing children into your home can impact your own biological children. Foster care is a journey that involves your entire family. The ages of children that you may look after ranges from newborn to 17 years old. You can choose the age of children you’d like to foster – It is important to think about what ages will suit your family and your ability to support them.
If you don’t have children, that’s ok too – you can also be a foster carer. You’ll receive training and support throughout your foster care journey. Foster carers can also be single, work full-time, or be retired. The most important thing is that you have a desire and the capacity to provide a safe, nurturing home for children and young people, and are willing to learn about the different needs of children, and the impact of trauma.