When children enter foster care, they’re often facing one of the most difficult times in their lives. They may have experienced trauma, loss, or unsafe living conditions. In these moments of uncertainty, one of the most important sources of comfort and stability can be a sibling.
Sibling placement in foster care plays a vital role in helping children feel safe, connected, and supported as they adjust to their new environment. While every foster care journey is different, keeping siblings together has consistently been shown to improve outcomes – emotionally, socially, and developmentally.
Sibling placement in foster care means placing brothers and sisters into the same foster home wherever possible, so they can continue to grow up together. Rather than being separated into different households, siblings are given the chance to stay together – to share their routines, support each other emotionally, and preserve their family bond.
This approach recognises that while foster carers provide nurturing care, the sibling bond is unique and irreplaceable. For children who have already experienced disruption, being with a brother or sister offers familiarity and reassurance.
Children in foster care often deal with deep emotional scars. They’ve often had to leave everything familiar behind – home, school, friends, and family. Sibling placement in foster care helps soften that blow.
Here are just some of the benefits:
Having a sibling present can ease anxiety and help children settle into their new environment more smoothly. A shared history gives them someone who understands what they’ve been through.
Growing up with siblings helps children maintain a connection to their identity, culture, and family background. It reminds them of who they are and where they come from.
Children placed with their siblings often show fewer behavioural challenges and are more likely to remain in a stable placement long-term.
When siblings are separated, relationships can be damaged or lost. Keeping them together builds the foundation for a strong, supportive connection into adulthood.
While the benefits are clear, sibling placement in foster care isn’t always easy. Some sibling groups are large, with three or more children. Others may include children with different emotional or physical needs. Not all foster homes are set up to care for multiple children, especially if they’re used to single-child placements.
That’s why foster care agencies like OzChild, are working hard to find and support carers who are open to sibling placements. With the right resources, training, and support systems in place, many of these challenges can be overcome.
Foster carers who accept sibling groups are often given extra support, including:
You don’t need to be a superhero to keep siblings together – just someone with room in their heart and home. Carers who support sibling placements in foster care come from all walks of life: single, partnered, working full-time or retired, with or without children of their own. One thing they all have in common is a solid support network, made up of friends, family and of course OzChild staff and other carers.
What matters most is your willingness to care for children as they grow, heal, and navigate life together. You’ll be supported every step of the way by an agency that understands the unique challenges – and joys – of fostering siblings.
Some practical things that can help:
Sibling placement in foster care isn’t just a best practice – it’s a powerful way to protect a child’s sense of family, stability, and identity. When we keep siblings together, we help them feel less alone. We give them a better chance at healing, and a stronger foundation for the future.
Find out more about becoming a foster carer“January 26 is a day many First Nations people brace for.” Chad Lofthouse, Director – National Aboriginal Practice & Partnerships shares his personal reflections, and calls on all Australians to be courageous allies and embrace anti-racism.
When children enter foster care, they’re often facing one of the most difficult times in their lives. In these moments of uncertainty, one of the most important sources of comfort and stability can be a sibling.
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