Becoming a Foster Carer
Who can be a Foster carer?
Many different people become carers. You can be a couple or single. You need to be mature and possess relevant life experience. The main qualities we look for in carers are a genuine interest in children, flexibility, commitment, ability to relate to children from 0–16 years and a willingness to have the child’s best interests at heart.
What is expected of Foster Carers?
Foster carers provide security, stability, nurture, structure, friendship, acceptance and appropriate care for the children who live with them. The roles and responsibilities of a foster carer are to:
- Provide a safe and caring living environment for the child or young person
- Take responsibility for day to day care
- Support the child’s relationship and contact with their natural family
- Be sensitive to the child’s needs and problems
- Work with and support the child’s case plan
- Support the child or young person to develop life skills
- Help the child to maintain a Life Story Book
- Work cooperatively with the foster care casework team
- Attend ongoing training
Foster carers draw upon their own life experiences, family and social networks, and personal characteristics, such as patience and good humour.
Wesley Dalmar support services for Foster Carers
Wesley Dalmar appreciates and respects the skills and insights that foster carers bring to their work with children and young people. As part of our appreciation, we are committed to providing adequate foster parent support. Support is provided in a number of ways such as:
- Regular visits from a professional caseworker
- 24 hour On-call service to support carers outside normal office hours
- On-going training
- Planned respite for long term foster carers
- Consultation with experts in the management of difficult behaviours or other issues
- Critical incident counselling and support
- Opportunities for networking with other foster carers
Applying to Become a Foster Carer
Foster care can be a very demanding, challenging and at times even hurtful experience. Most carers however say they would do it all again having experienced the rewards of assisting a child to achieve their full potential, watching them develop a belief in themselves as a person of worth, as well as helping them to prepare for independence within the wider community.
The first step to becoming a Foster carer is to attend an information session. This will provide you with detailed information on the challenges and benefits of foster care. If you are interested in becoming a foster carer, you can then complete an application form.
Foster carers are thoroughly assessed before they are authorised to care for children in their own homes. This process includes visits to your home, interviews with a Wesley Dalmar caseworker, and references from people who know you, including your family doctor. A Working with Children Check is also obtained. You will be assessed for your ability to work in a specific type of foster care program (short term, long term or bridging) and to work with a specific age group.
Once accepted as a foster carer, you will be given a letter of authorisation that specifies which type of foster care program you will work with and which age group you will work with. You will receive full training in the responsibilities of a foster carer. Training will also give you an opportunity to meet other foster carers and to get to know the team of caseworkers who will be supporting you.
If you are interested in becoming a foster carer, please contact one of our Foster Care Offices for further details on the assessment process.
There is a strong demand for foster carers due to the numbers of children coming into care. Wesley Dalmar Out of Home Care currently supports more than 120 foster carers. We will only recruit carers when we have the resources to support them. If we are unable to accept your application, we will refer you to another foster care agency in your local area.
