Foster care Central Coast

Being a foster carer can be incredibly rewarding. It may involve providing support during a crisis, temporarily offering a safe place to stay, or providing a loving home in the long term, leading to permanent care. As a foster carer, you can make a significant positive difference to young people’s lives.

Wesley Mission facilitates foster care in the Central Coast of NSW. So, if you live in this region, we encourage you to think about becoming involved.

What’s the first step? Begin with a friendly chat. Call us on 1300 325 627 or book an online Wesley Foster Care information session. Here, we will give you in-depth information so you can consider what it means to open your home and heart to a child in need. It’s an opportunity to ask any questions on the road to becoming a foster carer here in the Central Coast.

Book an info session

Why choose Wesley Mission for foster care in Central Coast?

At Wesley Mission, we’ve been putting children and young people’s interests first for over 130 years. 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 Foster Care in the Central Coast, know that we’ll be alongside you every step of the way to help you provide a young person with lasting support.

So, if you live on the Central Coast and have a genuine interest in caring for children, consider delving into the possibility of becoming a foster carer with us. With the strong level of support we offer, we are here to help you provide a deeply rewarding service to your local community.

Ongoing, timely support

Including a 24/7 call line, monthly case manager visits, financial support and respite care.

Diverse types of care

From short-term care to permanent placement, kinship care to respite, we enable foster care options that suit you.

Deep experience and networks

With a long history and operations across NSW, you’ll know you’re backed by a long-standing organisation and extensive network of peers.

Culturally connected care

We’re committed to ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are cared for within their culture and community by partnering with Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations.

If you have a genuine interest in caring for children, consider providing foster care in the Central Coast, NSW, with us.

How we support our foster carers

With a long track record of providing foster care services in the Central Coast and throughout NSW, at Wesley Mission, we are the most trusted and supportive option for children in need of safe and nurturing homes.

As a local foster carer in the Central Coast, you can rely on us to provide solid support for you and your family, allowing you to make a powerful difference in young lives through fostering.

24/7 Support

Support is just a phone call away anytime, day or night. If a crisis happens, we will be with you every step of the way.

Ongoing Training

You are provided with tried-and-true ongoing training that has helped thousands of carers support the lives of vulnerable children.

Case manager support

Your case manager will visit to support you each month.

Personalised care services

You can access a range of referrals to Wesley Mission support services, including medical specialists and educational tutors.

Resources for education

Receive support with accessing specialised educational and scholarship opportunities.

Financial support

You will receive an allowance to help you cover the costs of caring for the child or young person in your foster care.

Peer support

Get the opportunity to connect with other foster carers on the Central Coast, gaining peer support and building community.

A break when you need it

Access regular respite to support your wellbeing.

Support from a chaplain

Receive emotional and spiritual support when you need it.

Types of Foster Care you can provide in the Central Coast

When you become a foster carer in the Central Coast, there are a number of different ways that you can help vulnerable children and young people in your area, including:

Young woman smiling - Emergency Foster Care

Provide a child or young person with a safe place to stay during a crisis. This care is often arranged on short notice and can last from a single day to four weeks.

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

Provide a child or young person with temporary residence until they can either return safely to their birth family or secure an alternative permanent home. This arrangement can last from four weeks to as long as two years.

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

Provide care for a child or young person who cannot live with their birth family and requires long-term support until they become independent.

Elderly couple smiling - Specialist Foster Care

Give care to a child or young person with high and complex needs, including challenging behaviours, mental health issues, disability, or being one of many siblings.

This is foster care that you provide as a relative, family friend or as somebody the child or young person already knows and has a relationship with. Kinship care may lead to the opportunity to become a legal guardian.

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

To help support your own wellbeing and provide a break when you need it, we offer regular respite care.. The length varies. It may be for one day, a fortnight, a weekend each month, or for the duration of school holidays.

Can I become a foster carer in the Central Coast?

Regardless of your walk of life, you can become a foster carer in the Central Coast with Wesley Mission. That means you can:

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

To be eligible, you must be: 

Over the age of 21
In good health
Willing to participate in training and the assessment process
An Australian citizen or a permanent resident in Australia
Willing to undergo background checks.

Foster Care | Landing Page | Woman Reading Something To Child - Can I be A Foster Carer

Steps to becoming a foster carer

Have a chat

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

Home visit

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

Complete Training

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

Assessment interview

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

Become a carer

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

Real reviews by our foster carers

“I don’t think I would be where I am and who I am right now if I hadn’t had those people showing me that I was worth the effort, worth the phone calls and worth chasing me. They made sure I was getting to school, I was getting to work and they assisted me with all those wonderful things,” Brodie shares, reflecting on his experience in foster care and his journey toward becoming a Case Manager with Wesley Dalmar.

Brodie

Former foster child
"He gives big cuddles and says, 'I love you, Mummy and Daddy'," Christina shares about their foster son, Lachlan. Lachlan, who’s been in foster care since he was born, entered Christina and Jason’s care on a long-term placement at just two years old. And their bond was immediate. “We were instantly just Mum and Dad,” Christina says. And that bond grows every day.

Christina and Jason

Foster carers
"Katie has changed our lives,” Caitlin shares about the support she received from a Wesley Dalmar team member. “This has been the toughest experience of our lives and the most rewarding. And every step of the way, you were with us. And that means the world to us.”

Caitlin and Nolan

Foster carers
“Together we’ve travelled to many places and pursued successful careers, but we both agree that being foster parents is the best thing we’ve ever done,” Jules shares about their experience fostering multiple children through Welsey Mission's KickStart program - supporting young people to transition from foster care to independence at their own pace. “It’s so rewarding. That’s why I would encourage more people to do it.”

Jules and Dave

Foster carers

FAQs

What area does Wesley Mission’s foster care program cover in the Central Coast?

Our Central Coast Foster Care program spans from Lake Munmorah in the north, Tuggerah in the west, and Ettalong Beach in the south and includes major centres such as Wyong and Gosford, as well as The Entrance and Terrigal.

How do I become a foster carer with Wesley Mission in the Central Coast?

Begin by scheduling an information session with us. You can do this by booking a session here. Then, we would visit you at your home, where we would discuss the application process. Next, you would complete our training, learning strategies for supporting children or young people who have endured trauma. An assessment interview will follow, and if successful, you will be matched with a child or young person and become their foster carer.

How long does it take to become a foster carer?

It may take as long as 12 months for you to become an authorised foster carer. Then, depending on the type of care you choose, it could take days or even several months to be matched with a child or young person.

Why is foster care needed on the Central Coast?

Foster care is required for a wide range of reasons, from serious parental illness or incapacity to provide care, to short-term or long-term family issues that put children or young people in significant physical and psychological danger.

Is there a high demand for foster care in the Central Coast?

There is a high demand for foster care in the Central Coast, which is experiencing a critical shortage of carers. There are many children and young people on the Central Coast who need a safe and stable home.

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.

Get support

Get involved

About us

For businesses

Join us