Foster Care NSW: How you can change a child’s life
More than 14,000 children and young people in New South Wales cannot live safely at home and rely on the foster care system for safety, stability and support.
Yet across NSW, there is an ongoing need for more foster carers.
Speaking on 2GB radio, Wesley Mission’s Executive Director of Community Services, Bay Warburton, explained why foster carers play such an important role in helping vulnerable children rebuild their lives.
The difference a foster carer can make to a child’s life is incalculable,” Bay highlighted.
For many children, foster care provides the stability, care and belonging they need to thrive.
Why Foster Carers are needed in NSW
The foster care system in NSW supports children who cannot live safely with their birth families. At any given time, thousands of children require out-of-home care, and the need for carers continues to grow. Without enough carers, it becomes harder to place children in homes that meet their specific needs.
If you don’t have enough carers in the system, you risk making placements that aren’t quite right,” Bay said.
Children who move between multiple homes often struggle to find stability and trust. The goal of foster care is to create safe, long-term placements where children can feel secure and supported.
A Foster Carer’s Perspective
Bay Warburton is not only a leader in the community services sector — he is also a foster carer himself. He and his wife have been caring for a young girl for the past six years after she came into their home when she was about one year old.
We’ve been blessed by that opportunity. Every day it’s a blessing,” he said. Like many foster carers, Bay says the experience has been life-changing.
You see the difference you can make in one little life.”
Supporting children who have experienced trauma
Many children entering foster care have experienced trauma, neglect or instability. Providing a safe and supportive home can help them regain confidence and build healthy relationships.
It’s an opportunity to provide safety and routine,” Bay said.
Sometimes it simply means they can sleep better because they trust the adults around them.”
Foster carers provide more than just accommodation. They offer stability, encouragement and a sense of belonging during a difficult time in a child’s life.
How Wesley Mission supports foster carers
Wesley Mission has been supporting children and families for more than 130 years and works alongside the NSW Government to provide foster care services. Becoming a foster carer is a supported process.
Wesley Mission provides:
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Information sessions about foster care
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Training to prepare carers for supporting children with trauma
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Professional case manager support
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A community network of other foster carers
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Ongoing guidance and resources
On top of professional support, the community of carers supporting each other is incredibly important,” Warburton emphasised.
How to become a Foster Carer in NSW
The process of becoming a foster carer typically takes three to nine months and includes:
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Attending a foster care information session (not mandatory but a helpful introduction)
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Completing an application and home visit
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Participating in training
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Undertaking a suitability assessment
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Being matched with a child whose needs fit your family
This careful process helps ensure that children are placed with carers who can best support them.
Who can you become a Foster Carer?
Many people assume foster carers must fit a particular lifestyle or background. In reality, foster carers come from many different walks of life.
You can become a foster carer if you:
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Work full-time, part-time, are retired, are studying or not currently working
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Rent or own your home
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Are single or in a relationship
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Have children or no children
What matters most is having a safe home and a genuine desire to support children.
What we want are people who care for kids, who have a loving home and a heart to do good,” Bay commented.
Foster Care vs Adoption
Foster care provides temporary or long-term care while the best permanent outcome for the child is determined. Possible long-term outcomes may include:
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Restoration – the child returns to their birth family if circumstances improve
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Guardianship – long-term care by another family
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Adoption – legal adoption where appropriate
Each decision is made based on what is in the child’s best interests.
Learn more about becoming a Foster Carer
Becoming a foster carer is one of the most meaningful ways to support vulnerable children in NSW.
If you have ever considered fostering, the first step is simply learning more.
Wesley Mission regularly hosts foster care information sessions where you can ask questions and understand what’s involved.
Call: 1300 325 627
Visit: https://www.wesleymission.org.au/get-support/foster-care-and-adoption/
You could be the reason a child feels safe, supported and hopeful about their future.
