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Foster and kinship care

Support along your foster care journey

At UnitingCare, we’re committed to supporting all foster carers throughout their journey in changing the life of a child or young person. We understand the issues and challenges that foster families may face. 

Through open communication and respect for each other, we’ll work closely with you in your critical and selfless role as you help children and young people reach their full potential. Through our information sessions, training and ongoing support, we offer you a suite of tools that will give you confidence in caring for children.

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Training

Comprehensive free training is provided online and face to face for foster carers, and depending on your circumstance may include: 

  • Getting Ready to Start training: Mandatory two-day foster care training.
  • Triple P positive parenting programs: Strategies to support a child’s development, grow closer and solve problems.
  • Circle of Security: A parenting course based on attachment research about how to build a strong relationship with a child.
  • Therapeutic Crisis Intervention: A trauma-informed program that helps adults respond and support children who are struggling with certain challenging behaviours in a way that empowers children.
  • Targeted training: Support within the home to assist the foster carer and foster child in their relationship.

Ongoing support

The decision to care for a child in your home is one of the most important and rewarding decisions you can make. UnitingCare is here to support and guide you through every stage of your life-changing journey as a foster carer. Our ongoing support includes: 

  • Monthly home visits.
  • Regular support group meetings with other carers, such as our carer morning teas.
  • Social events for you and your family, such as morning teas, Easter and Christmas events, and other special events throughout the year.
  • 24/7 support line answered by placement workers in your region.
  • Therapeutic in-home support, tailored to your household need, including supporting relationships with biological and foster children.
  • Specialist educational programs for foster children.
  • More intensive support is also available for carers with children who have complex needs.
  • Access to youth workers.
  • Access to supportive respite, subject to availability.
  • Ongoing training around trauma, attachment and behaviour offered on a case-by-case basis.
Close-up picture of a man smiling at the camera

“Hi! My name is Andre, I've been working with and supporting families for more than seven years. I’m really passionate about supporting children and thankful to work in foster care. 

My role is to help you through the process of becoming a foster carer. I'll be walking alongside you, guiding you through the process. 

I also provide training and support to help you navigate and understand the child protection system, and I’ll be your trainer for parenting programs such as Triple P, Circle of Security and Therapeutic Crisis Intervention training. 

I can't wait to meet you all.”

 - Andre

Adults holdings hand with a child walking along a boardwalk

“We are new carers in the system through UnitingCare. When we signed up for this, we had no idea of the process, or what to expect. However, the training that we attended, organised by UnitingCare helped us with better understanding and now that we are in the system, those sessions are helping us in our day-to-day life with the new person at our place. 

The assessment process was lengthy, however we had a good time unpacking stuff from the past that has helped us to understand more about ourselves and how we can be useful and helpful to the young person’s life. 

We are getting ongoing support from UnitingCare, even after the placement, to ensure that placement is successful for both the carers and the young person. 

We are very happy with the help and support that UnitingCare is providing and will encourage families to sign up for the opportunity that they can give to a young person’s life.” 

- Ashley and Mary* 
*Names have been changed for privacy reasons.

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Enquire now

If you have any questions, require further information, or would like to discuss how you can become a life-changer, call us on 1300 554 240. Or fill out the form below and one of our team members will be in touch with you.