Foster care and adoptions

Young people in out-of-home-care might be babies, school-aged children, teenagers or siblings. Every child or young person has different needs, so there are different types of fostering to suit them:

Temporary care–This is anything from an overnight stay, up to a year or two, while the matter is before court. At the end of temporary care, the child may return to their family or be placed in long-term care. Types of temporary include respite, emergency, restoration and short term.

Permanent care–Permanent care lasts beyond the child’s official leaving care age of 18 years or until the family circumstances change. Types of permanent care include guardianship, adoption and permanent foster care.

To find out more about the different types of foster care we have available, please download our information pack for potential foster carers.

Foster carers are extraordinary. Being a carer comes with a range of responsibilities and each day can bring new challenges and great rewards.

The decision for a young person to enter into an out-of-home care arrangement is made by the Department of Communities and Justice in New South Wales. Where possible, children are to stay with their own families with support. Removal is the last option.

When it is necessary, Wesley Dalmar ensure the child or young person is placed with the best possible foster carer to support their needs and growth.

Our foster carers:

• draw on their own experiences of raising children
• provide good quality day-to-day care for children and respect the Code of Conduct for Authorised Carers
• provide a safe environment for the child in their care that is free from abuse
• work as part of a team with Case Managers to support children in their care
• promote the positive development of children and young people in foster care
• help children to build positive ongoing relationships with their birth family and develop a strong sense of identity and culture
• engage in ongoing training and personal development.

To find out more about what to expect when fostering a child with Wesley Dalmar, please download our information pack for potential foster carers.

Wesley Mission has been providing care to children and young people since 1893. Today Wesley Dalmar provides homes for more than 620 children and young people in foster care.

To find out more about Wesley Dalmar, please download our information pack for potential foster carers.

Wesley Mission will only proceed with your application:

• if you have current or past carer applications or authorisations, Wesley mission will request from those organisation/s you have applied with
• if there are no current fertility or adoption processes
• if there is no previous substantiated or current allegation of child abuse or neglect.