Every child deserves a safe place to call home. A place where they feel loved, seen and secure.
Right now, over 46,000 children in Australia can't live with their birth families. They need someone to step up. Someone to offer them a home for a while, or a home for life.
Fostering and adoption are two powerful ways you can change a child's story. They are different journeys, but both start with compassion.
Understanding the difference is the first step to finding your path. Wesley Mission is a leading foster family agency providing foster care in NSW. We can help you explore these options.
Fostering: A safe harbour for a while
Fostering is about giving a temporary, loving home to a child who needs it. You become their safe place to land while their birth family works through a tough time.
This could be for just a few nights, a few months – or sometimes even a few years.
The main goal of fostering is often to help a child go back to their birth family when it's safe. You play a key role in that journey. You're more than a carer; you're a bridge. You offer stability and hope when a child needs it most.
It's a team effort. As a Wesley Mission foster carer, you'll get training, financial help and ongoing support. This helps both you and the child in your care. We are one of the local foster care agencies near me if you're in Sydney or elsewhere in NSW.
Learn more about becoming a foster carer in NSW from the NSW Government.
Adoption: A home for life
Adoption is a promise of forever. It's for children who cannot safely return to their birth families. They need the safety of a permanent home.
When you adopt, you become the child's legal parent. You take on full responsibility for their care, their future, and their wellbeing. It's a lifelong commitment.
The process is thorough – and for good reason. It's about making sure a child is placed in a safe, caring home. A place where they can finally put down roots. In Australia, most adoptions are "open". This means a child can stay connected with their birth family. This is often important for their sense of who they are.
Key differences, side by side
Let's look at the main differences:
| Feature | Fostering | Adoption |
|---|---|---|
| Your Role | A temporary carer, working as part of a support team. | The child's permanent, legal parent. |
| The Goal | Provide a safe home while working towards family reunion. | Provide a new, lifelong family for a child. |
| The Time | Can be short-term or last several years. | A lifelong, permanent commitment. |
Which path is right for you?
This is a big decision. Only you can make it. It's about looking at your life, your strengths, and what kind of home you can offer a child.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Am I ready to love and support a child, knowing they might go back to their birth family?
- Can I be a 'bridge' and help a child stay linked to their birth family?
- Or am I looking to give a permanent, forever home and become a legal parent?
A home can change a life
Whether you offer a home for a while (fostering) or a home for life (adoption), your love and support can change a child's future. It's a chance to give them the security and hope they deserve.
At Wesley Mission, we walk with our foster carers every step of their journey. We provide the training, tools, and support you need to make a real difference. We are a trusted name in foster care Australia NSW.
Are you ready to open your door?
