The Future of Foster Care

“The current shortage of foster carers is not the result of poor marketing or cold-hearted Australians;
it’s driven by macro drivers and requires systemic change.”

- Simon Kuestenmacher, demographer and Director and Co-founder of The Demographics Group

Over the past five years, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) data shows a steady number of children and young people (CYP) entering out-of-home care (OOHC).

But what has changed significantly is where children are being placed within the system.

A decline in the number of new foster carers entering and an increase in foster carers exiting the system is resulting in a growing reliance on non-family-based (residential) care arrangements across all Australian jurisdictions. This is particularly concerning for First Nations children, who are becoming increasingly overrepresented.

These trends not only incur significant financial burdens for governments but, most importantly, result in poor outcomes for children and young people, and their families and communities.

The Project

While the availability of foster carers has impacted each state and territory differently, it is crucial to understand the contributing factors driving the shortage and develop national strategies over the next decade to preserve this essential component of the child and family services system.  

A National Foster Care Sustainability Group has been established to drive national-level change by collaborating openly, sharing resources and reports, exchanging expertise, and collectively advocating for strategic federal actions. 

This project is being delivered in partnership with Families Australia, The Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare, PeakCare and OzChild. It is a strategic priority for child and family peak bodies and sector partners, to strengthen the coordinated efforts in working collaboratively with the Australian Government and key stakeholders to sustain and enhance the foster care system. 

Key Reports

We are committed to keeping the sector informed about this critical work. Visit this page to access new resources, reports, research findings and policy recommendations as they are released. These documents will help stakeholders understand the current landscape, the challenges faced, and the proposed solutions to improve the foster care system. 

Contact

For more information about the National Foster Care Sustainability Project or make an enquiry, please contact:

Bianca Richards

Bianca Richards 
Executive Director Sector Development (Project lead) 
brichards@ozchild.org.au

Subscription icon

Sign up to the OzChild mailing list

Stay up to date with the latest news and events.

ENQUIRE NOW

Choose your region

Select your region to create an enhanced and personal experience.

Acknowledgement of Country


OzChild acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we live and work. We acknowledge their cultures are living ones, which relate to their ongoing connection to all things living and non-living on land, sea and sky.

We pay our respect to Elders past and present.

May the children of today lead us to a brighter tomorrow.

This will close in 0 seconds