The Future of Foster Care Roadshow 

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

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

Most recently, a damning report by the NSW Advocate for Children and Young People, detailing firsthand accounts of children being left alone and unsafe in hotels and motels, the NSW Government has announced an urgent review into the overreliance on High-Cost Emergency Arrangements. In Queensland, residential care numbers have more than doubled in the last five years. In Victoria, fatigued carers are exiting the system, and the number of enquiries and accredited foster carers over the last three years has plummeted. Although the pace of change varies across regions, national AIHW data reveals an overall 72% increase in the number of children and young people entering non-home-based (residential) care since 2017¹. We know the short and long-term outcomes are better for children when they grow up in home-based environments. 

Australia is facing a critical shortage of foster carers. The 2023 Australian Child Maltreatment Study emphasised the need for a differentiated and contemporary approach to foster care – without urgent attention and a coordinated effort to sustain the system, the traditional foster care system will decline into extinction. 

A United Approach 

Child Protection presents a complex interplay of individual systems, predominantly falling under ‘state business’, however, the Commonwealth also has influence and responsibilities that can play a pivotal leadership role in facilitating better support for foster carers in state-based systems.  

Led by Families Australia, a newly established National Foster Care Sustainability Group (NFCSG) consisting of knowledge and thought leaders from all parts of the sector, share a deep concern in addressing this critical issue and are investing their own time, resources and effort to assist Families Australia in engaging the Commonwealth.  

The aim is for open collaboration, resource and report sharing, expertise exchange, and to collectively advocate for the strategic federal levers necessary to unlock substantial gains for the state and territory foster care systems. Together they are working to directly inform and present to the Federal Government a concise set of solutions for action in the next six months. These recommendations will be designed for the Commonwealth to eliminate existing barriers and empower jurisdictions to enhance their practices.  

The Future of Foster Care Roadshow 

Throughout July and August, a series of panel discussions in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia, featured leaders from child and family peak bodies. The panellists explored key issues impacting each of their jurisdictions, shared insights and initiatives currently underway, and highlighted the work being undertaken across the country to address the foster carer shortage and overreliance on residential care and alternative care arrangements. 

The ‘roadshow’ also served to introduce the work of Families Australia and the NFCSG, discussing the federal policy recommendations designed to eliminate the existing barriers for improved state and territory foster care systems. 

ACWA Conference 2024, Sydney 

ACWA ‘Strategy to Action’ Day, Sydney

National Kinship, Permanent & Foster Care Conference 2024, Melbourne

Child and Family Focus SA, Future of Foster Care Summit, Adelaide   

Next Steps 

This year Families Australia will directly present to the Federal Government a set of three immediate solutions for action, with the aim of raising the profile of the issues ahead of the 2025 election.   

These recommendations have been agreed to by the NFCSG and are designed to eliminate existing federal barriers allowing jurisdictions to enhance their practices.   

This issue deserves our collective, urgent attention. Together, we can ensure that children, young people, families and carers receive the support they need, when they need it most. 

Visit futureoffostercare.org.au and familiesaustralia.org.au for more information.

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. 

¹ AIHW Data June 2023