What is foster care?

Foster care is more than a temporary place for children who can’t live with their birth families: it is often a lifeline. The care and stability that trained foster carers provide can genuinely transform a young person’s life.

Children enter care for many different reasons and foster carers step in to offer the supportive, safe and stable environment they deserve. MacKillop is urgently seeking carers across Australia to help meet this need. Wondering whether fostering might be right for you? We’ve answered some of the most common questions below.

What is foster care?

At its heart, foster care gives children a safe and secure home when they can’t remain with their birth family. While the specific arrangements vary, foster care is always intended to be temporary, with the long term goal of helping families reunite wherever possible. No matter what level of support you can offer, there’s a type of foster care that can fit your lifestyle and make a real difference.

People from all walks of life open their homes to children in need - individuals or couples, renters or homeowners, people working full‑time, part‑time, retired or at home, from all cultural or religious backgrounds, with or without children of their own.

There are several types of foster care, each designed to meet specific needs:

Why children enter foster care

Children enter foster care for many reasons. Some may have experienced neglect or safety concerns, family breakdown, family illness, or legal intervention. What they all share is the need for adults who can provide safety, stability and care when their birth family is unable to.

Family circumstances and crises

Life can change in an instant. The death of a parent, family homelessness or overwhelming grief can leave children without the consistent care they need. In situations involving family violence or neglect, temporary or permanent removal may be necessary to protect a child’s wellbeing.

Abuse or neglect

When a child’s environment becomes unsafe due to emotional, physical or sexual abuse, or ongoing neglect, foster care may be used as a protective measure, sometimes temporarily, sometimes as part of a longer term plan.

Parental challenges

Challenges like substance misuse, mental health issues or incarceration can affect a parent’s ability to provide safe and consistent care. In these situations, foster care ensures children are supported while families work to address underlying issues.

Legal and voluntary placements

Courts may order foster care when a child is at risk of harm, or parents may voluntarily seek out of home care if they feel they cannot safely meet their child’s needs.

The role of foster carers

Foster carers do far more than provide a safe place to sleep. They help children regain a sense of routine and rebuild trust. Carers receive training and go through an accreditation process, but what matters most is compassion, patience and a desire to help children feel secure and supported.

Providing a safe and nurturing home

Children who’ve experienced instability need consistency and warmth. Foster carers nurture that sense of safety through everyday actions: creating routines like shared meals, listening without judgment and respecting each child’s boundaries as they heal and grow.

Supporting development and connection

Foster carers play a key role in a child's development and education by supporting school attendance, creating quiet and encouraging spaces for learning, and working closely with teachers. Carers also help maintain safe connections with birth families and prioritise the child’s cultural identity, supported every step of the way by MacKillop.

Permanent foster care

When a child cannot return to their birth family, permanent foster care offers a long term home environment where they can grow in stability and security. Permanent carers also take on long term decision making responsibilities under legal arrangements.