There are many children who, for a number of reasons, can't live at home.  It may be that they have been removed from their birth family because they are not being given appropriate care.  It may be that a parent is unable to look after their child because of illness and temporary, alternative care is needed.

OzChild has the largest single foster care program in Victoria.  The majority of children in our care are referred by the Victorian Department of Human Services (DHS) through Child Protection. OzChild also provides specialist intensive therapeutic foster care and kinship care.

Trained volunteer carers look after children and young people, providing temporary or longer term care in a safe and nurturing home.  These dedicated carers sometimes take in children who are removed from parent's care in the middle of the night.  Relatives of children who can't live at home care for them through the Kinship Care program.

Some very special carers also provide care in their home for children with a disability through OzChild's Family Options program.

The safety and well being of children and young people is always OzChild's primary focus.  Reunification of children with their families is aimed for where this is in the child's best interest.

Foster Care

Foster care is temporary or longer term care for children and young people who can't live at home.

Kinship Care

Where a child/young person is no longer in the care of their parents, the Kinship Care program together with DHS Child Protection, tries to keep children within their extended family or within the child's support network.

Together Again program

The Together Again Program (TAP) aims to reunite families when children have been residing in Kinship or out-of-home care placements. The parent or parents need to have demonstrated an ability to work with services to address issues identified as protective concerns to the child or children.

Family Options program

The Family Options program provides long term, full time, permanent alternative family care for children with a severe disability who can no longer remain with their families.  The child's birth family is encouraged to maintain an ongoing role in the child's life.