There are no set rules on who can and cannot become a Foster Carer. Each and every applicant is unique and applications are reviewed and considered very carefully by our team. There is simply no one ‘ideal type’ of Foster Carer.
Ultimately Foster Carers are there to support children in care to meet their full potential by providing them with stability, support, and nurturing, and these traits know no gender, race, religion or lifestyle choice boundaries.
Foster Carers can be male or female; married, defacto, in a same-sex relationship, or single. They may have their own children, have step or adopted children or not have children at all.
Prospective Foster Carers do not need to earn a certain salary, own their own home, or have a certain level of education. Some Foster Carers stay at home with kids whilst others maintain part- or full-time work or study.
Despite the name, you do not have to be Catholic to be a Foster Carer with us. Our carers come from many different religious and cultural backgrounds.
Our Foster Carers are from all walks of life, however there are some key considerations you should take into account before deciding to become a Foster Carer.
- You must be able to demonstrate that that you can provide a stable and safe home and lifestyle to a child in care.
- You need to have sufficient space in your home for a child.
- You need time, patience, tolerance and energy.
- You must be able to work as part of a team; sharing your home, lives and parenting styles with the Foster Care team.
- You must be willing to appreciate and encourage the role of the child’s birth family in their lives.
Some Foster Carers have had difficult experiences in their past but have been able to demonstrate how they dealt with those experiences and what they have learnt from them. If you have a criminal record, you may still be eligible to become a Foster Carer; however, certain crimes are automatic disqualifiers.
If you are interested in finding out if you have what it takes to become a Foster Carer why not complete our Self-Evaluation Form.