Foster Care & Adoption NSW | Wesley Mission Support Services

Mother hugging young girl with father in the background - Foster Care

Become a foster carer and help change the life of a child in need

Being a foster carer can be incredibly rewarding. Whether you give support during a crisis, offer a safe place temporarily or provide a loving home long term, as a foster carer you can make a positive difference to young people’s lives.

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Types of care you can provide as a foster carer

Young woman smiling - Emergency Foster Care

Give a child or young person somewhere safe to stay at a time of crisis. This care is usually at short notice and can range from one day up to four weeks.

Foster Care Landing Page | Types of Care | Young Adult with Dog - Short Term Care

Give a child or young person a temporary place to stay until they can return safely to their birth family or find an alternative permanent home. This care ranges from four weeks up to two years.

Foster Care | Landing Page | Woman & Child Holding Hands - Permanent or Long-Term Care

Care for a child or young person who is unable to live with their birth family and needs long-term support until they reach independence.

Elderly couple smiling - Specialist Foster Care

Care for a child or young person who has high and complex needs, such as challenging behaviors, disability, mental health issues or being part of a large sibling group.

Care that's given by relatives, family friends or someone the child or young person already has a relationship with, offering the option to become a legal guardian.

Foster Care | Landing Page | Woman Holding Little Girl Holding a Teddy Bear - Respite Care

Give foster carers a much-needed break by offering flexible care for a day, a couple of weeks, school holidays or one weekend a month.

Can I be a foster carer?

Our foster carers come from all walks of life and can: 

✔ Be single or have a partner
✔ Be from any culture or religion
✔ Have their own children
✔ Own or rent their home
✔ Be working or not, studying or retired.

Our foster carers need to be: 

✔ Healthy
✔ Over 21
✔ Willing to participate in training and the assessment process
✔ An Australian citizen or a permanent resident
✔ Willing to undergo background checks.

Steps to becoming a foster carer

Call 1300 325 627 or attend an online information session to learn about fostering.

We’ll discuss if your family and home are a good fit and how to apply.  

Learn strategies to support a child or young person who’s faced trauma.

We’ll have deeper discussions to determine if your family is suited to fostering.

If your application is successful, you’ll be matched with a child or young person.

Our commitment

We’re committed to placing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people with foster carers who are connected to their Community and Culture.

We’re committed to the NSW Government’s 10-year plan to transfer the care management of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people to Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations (ACCOs).

We’re partnering with local ACCOs and believe they are best equipped to strengthen connections between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people and their kin, community and culture.

Volunteering | Wesley Aunties & Uncles V2

Why choose Wesley Dalmar Foster Care?

For more than 130 years, we’ve been putting children and young people’s interests first. Our history of caring continually drives our commitment to help children and young people have safe, stable, loving and nurturing places to call home. When you choose to foster with Wesley Dalmar, know that we’ll be alongside you every step of the way to help you provide a young person with lasting support.

If you have a genuine interest in caring for children, consider becoming a foster carer with us.

Love in action

As foster carers with Wesley Foster Care, Carolyn and Dave have opened their home to 75 children.

Learn how you can get involved

How we support our foster carers

On-call support day or night to help you in a crisis.

Access foster care training and support.

Monthly supportive visits from your case manager.

Get referrals to medical specialists, tutors or other Wesley Mission support services.

Access to educational and scholarship opportunities.

Receive an allowance to help cover the costs of caring for a child or young person.

Connect with other foster carers in your area.

Access regular respite to support your wellbeing.

Receive emotional and spiritual support when you need it.

Where to next?

If you’re ready to take the next step, choose an option below to get started on your foster care journey.

Speak with one of our friendly and helpful foster care specialists today.

Call us Email us

Subscribe today to receive our foster care information pack and newsletter.

Become a Wesley Aunty or Uncle

If you’re not ready to become a foster carer, consider becoming a Wesley Aunty or Uncle mentor. You’ll be paired with a child or young person who has faced difficulties in life and needs a supportive role model.

Learn more

Adopt a child with Wesley Dalmar

We believe all children deserve a loving and safe place to call home. Wesley Dalmar operates in NSW to give children most in need a permanent new home with caring parents who will love and support them for the rest of their lives.

Learn more

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The Dove Ballina café offers more than great coffee; it provides young people with hands-on...

Christina and Jason find love in foster care

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Christina and Jason's story highlights their rewarding and challenging experience fostering...

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Jules and Dave’s story: fostering on their family farm

October 16, 2024

Foster parents Jules and Dave, on their Central Coast farm, help young people develop life skills...

FAQs

Why do children or young people enter foster care?

Foster care is provided to children or young people up to the age of 18 years of age when they’re unable to live with their birth families. Children and young people are placed in care when they’re at risk of significant harm or neglect, or in times of family crisis where the parent or guardian is unable to secure work or housing, experiencing declining health or has a disability. A parent or guardian can also voluntarily seek foster care support for their children. Where possible, children and young people will return home once it’s safe to do so, while others will need foster carers who can give them a permanent home.

Why should I be a foster carer?

Being a foster carer isn’t always easy. But it can be incredibly rewarding. You’ll provide a safe, stable and loving place to call home for a child or young person who may have faced challenging circumstances or trauma. You can use your skills, experience and passion to support children to build resilience as they work through any hardship while helping them adjust to living with a new family. You’ll work alongside an organisation committed to helping people most in need. And you’ll be supported financially, receive professional training and have ongoing support.

Can I foster children of specific age or gender?

Our team will discuss with you any preferences you have including age or gender and will aim to match a child to you that suits your circumstances.

How long will it take to become a foster carer?

It can take up to 12 months to become an authorised foster carer. Depending on which type of care you choose, it could take days, or up to several months to be matched to a child or young person.

Will I have contact with the child’s birth family?

Yes, we believe it’s important to continue fostering positive relationships with their birth family and we encourage you to remain connected with their birth family, community and culture. A case manager will support you to maintain those relationships and have regular, supervised visits with their birth family.

What if I encounter challenges while fostering?

We’ll provide you with ongoing support and access to specialist support services if needed to help you manage any concerns or challenges that may arise.