How can we help?

Could you care?

Every child deserves a stable home. You can make that possible.

Your community needs you

Right now, there are 3 children in Queensland who have completed OzChild’s specialised foster care program (TFCO). Through this temporary 9-month intensive program, they’ve worked hard with a team of professionals to develop new skills that help them manage their emotions, build confidence and develop healthy routines. Usually, the kids in this program return home to their families after they graduate from the program, but these kids have nowhere to go. However, they don’t have a long-term family to call their own, someone who can provide the love and stability they need to keep thriving.

By opening your heart and home, you can provide one of these children with the stability and sense of belonging they need to continue making progress.

What it means to be a long-term foster carer

Long-term foster care provides a child with a safe and consistent family life when they cannot return to their family. As a long-term carer, you’ll continue the important work started through OzChild’s specialised foster care program, offering guidance, encouragement, and a sense of belonging during some of the most formative years of their life.

You don’t need to be a parent already or have a particular family set-up. What matters most is providing a safe, caring environment where a child feels welcome.

How do we support you?

Financial assistance

As a long-term carer, you will receive a tax-free carer allowance starting from $642 per fortnight (Approx. $16,692 per year) to help cover the cost of things like food, bills and clothing.

Professional services for the child

You will also have access to all the supports and services your child could need, i.e., counsellors, speech pathologists, tutors and more.

24/7 on call access

We are there for you, and you can talk to a member of our team whenever you need to. Even outside office hours, a staff member is always on call, so help is just at the end of the phone.

Professional training

You will be asked to complete 16 hours of foster care training during accreditation to set you up for success. We also provide ongoing training opportunities across all aspects of foster care to help you build your skills and knowledge in working with children who have suffered trauma.

Day-to-day peer support

You will be matched with an experienced foster carer who can provide you with support and guidance over the phone or a coffee. Access to drivers to help with school runs, cleaners, meal delivery service, and babysitting funds is also available.

OzChild team alongside you

A team of people at OzChild are there for you, including your case manager, carer support worker and after-hours team.

Single, Renting, Identify As LGBTQIA+

Are you eligible to become a long-term carer?

If you have love to give, you can give a child a better future. Long-term carers come from a diverse range of cultures, religions, sexual orientations, families and marital status.

What’s most important is your capacity to help a child thrive.

You can become a long-term carer if you:

  • Are over 21

  • Can provide a clean and safe living space

  • Have a spare bedroom

  • Are an Australian citizen or Permanent Resident

  • Have a car for school picks up and drop offs

  • Have the time to commit to caring for a child or young person

  • Are open to being trained to care for a child with complex behaviours. Previous experience in a similar role is a bonus!

  • Live in a service area:

Sound like it could work for you? Get in touch via our enquiry form and we’ll send you some info to read.


Meet the kids

Alex*, Maya* and Liam* are three actual Queensland children who are waiting for someone like you to care for them. 

*Images and names have been changed to protect the identities of the children and their families.

Alex*

Alex is a gentle, chatty 11-year-old who enjoys anything related to “Batman”, riding bikes, and spending time with his younger brother. He is neurodivergent and thrives with carers who listen patiently and support his routines.

Maya*

Maya is a creative 11-year-old who loves drawing, dancing and strawberries. She’s neurodivergent and thrives with patient carers who can encourage her routines and celebrate her progress.

Liam*

Liam is a bright, energetic 6-year-old who loves soccer, scooters and playing outdoors. Shy in new situations, he flourishes with consistent, positive carers who can spend one-on-one time with him.

It’s the smallest decisions that can change a life forever

Other questions you might have

During the accreditation process, we learn all about you and your family to understand what kind of child would best suit your household dynamic. When you are being matched with a child, you will find out lots of info about the child first and the child could stay with you for a few weekends to see if having the child in your care long-term could work.

You certainly can, if you have the time and energy to do both. Most of our carers work full or part-time hours. There is a lot of support from OzChild such as, cleaners, babysitters, and drivers to help fit fostering in with your daily schedule.

The child in your care will spend one weekend a month with other carers to give you a break.

Depending on your availability, you could complete the accreditation process in as little as 3-5 months! There are necessary meetings, training and paperwork to complete but we are here to help you every step of the way.

Carers looking after Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children are encouraged to keep those children connected with their culture and our Aboriginal Practice Lead is on hand to help you figure out what this means and what to do. The same is true for children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. We will provide you with the help and resources so you can do this.

Absolutely, if you’re keen to explore other types of foster care (weekend care, emergency care or caring for just a couple of weeks or months at a time) or would like to care for a broader range of kids (aged 0-17), we would love to hear from you. Click here to find out more info about other types of care.

All of these children are more likely to be in long-term care as the court has decided they can’t safely live with their parent(s) and they don’t have any other family members who can care for them.

When you are an accredited OzChild carer you do not have to be re-accredited if you wish to pivot to another foster care program (other types of care or different ages) or wish to foster more children.

Ready to take the next step?

Learn more about becoming a long-term foster carer 

By submitting this form, you’ll receive a welcome email with details on how to join one of our virtual information sessions. These relaxed sessions are a great way to learn about the process, meet an OzChild carer, and ask any questions you might have about long-term care.

Children like Maya, Liam and Alex have completed our specialised foster care program and now need a stable, loving home to continue growing. At the session, you’ll hear how OzChild supports carers to make that possible.

You’re not signing up for anything by enquiring; it’s simply a chance to learn more about what’s involved and see if long-term foster care could be the right fit for you.

ENQUIRE NOW

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