Treatment Foster Care Oregon (TFCO) becomes Treatment Foster Care Australia (TFCA)

From 1 November 2025, OzChild’s Treatment Foster Care Oregon (TFCO) program will become Treatment Foster Care Australia (TFCA). 

For nearly a decade, OzChild has delivered Treatment Foster Care Oregon in Australia, always striving for the best possible outcomes for children and young people. Over time, we have thoughtfully adapted the model to suit Australian communities – introducing the Teacher, Case Coordinator, and Aboriginal Practice Lead roles – to make sure the program meets the unique needs of Australian children, young people and families.

The renaming of the program from Treatment Foster Care Oregon (TFCO) to Treatment Foster Care Australia (TFCA) reflects our commitment to deliver the best outcomes for children and young people by clearly position the program as being tailored to Australia’s out‑of‑home care landscape, strengthen alignment with state governments and local referral pathways, and embed national and local expertise to deliver a high‑quality, evidence‑informed alternative to residential care for Australian children and young people.

Despite the name change – the program itself remains the same. Treatment Foster Care Australia (TFCA) will continue to be delivered with the same evidence‑based approach, fidelity to the model, and commitment to quality care that families, carers, and partners know and trust.

The new name simply makes it easier for Government funding partners, practitioners and and partner organisations and families to recognise that the model is suitable and accessible in Australia, delivering successful outcomes locally.

Learn about TFCA

OzChild has led the introduction and growth of Treatment Foster Care Oregon across Australia since 2017 – working hand‑in‑hand with model purveyors TFC Consultants, government and sector partners to stay true to this evidence-based model while achieving strong local outcomes. 

Launching in Melbourne’s South East, OzChild first delivered Treatment Foster Care Oregon in partnership with the Victorian Government. From the outset, the focus was to support children under 12 with complex needs who might otherwise enter residential or alternative care, and help them return to safe, stable, home‑based care.

In 2025, OzChild took another step to strengthen local expertise and sustainability by announcing Australia’s first locally based TFCO Consultant – a role designed with TFC Consultants to provide local expert clinical consultation and implementation support to TFCO teams across the country, enabling growth of the program and consistency across Australia. The appointment reflects deep partnership and growing sector demand for proven therapeutic care models that offer an evidence‑informed alternative to residential care.

We are grateful for the ongoing consultation, endorsement and genuine partnership with TFC Consultants which supports this evolution and reaffirms our shared commitment to fidelity and outcomes. 

The shift from Treatment Foster Care Oregon to Treatment Foster Care Australia is a positive, practical step that strengthens how the program is understood and accessed nationwide – without changing the proven approach at its core. With continued collaboration across governments, sector partners, carers, and communities, TFCA will keep improving outcomes for Australian children and young people – helping more kids grow up in safe, stable homes and thrive.