When a child cannot safely live with their birth parents, the first option is usually to place them with someone they already know and trust, a grandparent, aunt, uncle, older sibling, family friend or other person connected to the child's life. This is called kinship care.
Kinship care is the most common form of out-of-home care in NSW, and for good reason. Staying connected to family and community reduces trauma, supports a child's sense of identity and often leads to better long-term outcomes than placement with a stranger. However, kinship carers, who often take on this role suddenly and without much preparation, frequently tell us they didn't know what they were signing up for, or what support they were entitled to.
This guide explains how kinship care works in NSW, what kinship carers need to know, and where to get help.
Both kinship care and foster care are forms of out-of-home care, meaning the child is cared for by someone other than their birth parents, usually under the oversight of the NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) or an accredited agency like Wesley Mission.
The key difference is the relationship. Kinship carers are people who already have a connection to the child. Foster carers are assessed and approved strangers who open their homes to children they haven't previously met.
In NSW, kinship care can be either:
Most kinship carers involved with the child protection system are in formal arrangements, which is the focus of this guide.
Anyone with an existing relationship to a child can potentially become a kinship carer, including:
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, kinship care is particularly important. Wesley Mission actively works to place Aboriginal children with carers who are connected to their community, culture and language.
Kinship care arrangements usually begin in one of two ways.
The first is through the child protection system. When DCJ assesses that a child is at risk and cannot safely stay with their parents, they look for suitable family members or known people before considering placement with a foster carer. If you're identified as a potential kinship carer, DCJ or an accredited agency will contact you.
The second is self-referral. If you're already informally caring for a child connected to your family and the arrangement is likely to continue, you can approach DCJ or an agency yourself to formalise the arrangement and access support.
Becoming an authorised kinship carer in NSW involves an assessment process, though it is generally less intensive than the process for general foster carers. You can expect:
The focus is on the child's existing relationship with you and your capacity to provide stability, not on finding a perfect carer, but on finding the right one for this particular child.
Authorised kinship carers in NSW receive a carer allowance to help cover the costs of caring for a child, food, clothing, transport, activities and other day-to-day expenses. The amount varies depending on the age of the child and the level of care required.
Kinship carers may also be eligible for:
It's worth noting that informal kinship carers, those caring for a child without DCJ involvement, are generally not eligible for these supports. If you're in this situation, speaking with Wesley Mission is a good first step to understanding your options.
Kinship care can be deeply rewarding, but it also comes with unique challenges that general foster care doesn't always involve.
This is why support is so important. Wesley Mission provides kinship carers with the same level of case management, training, peer networks and specialist referrals as general foster carers. You are not expected to manage alone.
Yes. In some cases, when reunification with birth parents is not possible, a kinship placement can become permanent. This may involve legal orders made through the Children's Court in NSW, the carer being appointed as the child's legal guardian, or in some cases pursuing adoption. The pathway varies depending on the child's circumstances and the wishes of the family. In some situations, carers can apply for parental responsibility after two years of continuous care.
If you're in a kinship placement that has been ongoing for some time and you're wondering about the longer-term options, speak with your case manager or contact Wesley Foster Care for guidance. Some children remain with kinship carers until they turn 18.
Wesley Mission has been supporting kinship carers across NSW for decades. When you care for a child through Wesley Mission, you receive:
If you're unexpectedly caring for a child in your family and don't know where to start, the most important thing you can do is reach out. Wesley Mission offers a free, no-obligation conversation to help you understand your options and what support is available.
Caring for a child in your family? We can help. Whether you're already in a kinship arrangement or just starting to consider it, Wesley Mission's team will walk you through everything, with no pressure and no commitment.
Call 1300 325 627 or find more information here.