Can I become a Foster Carer if I work or study?
Many Foster Carers work or study and care for a child in Foster Care. What governs this placement arrangement is the specific needs of the child or young person, the type of care required, and the flexibility of work arrangements.  

Can I choose the age of the child I would like to foster?
All recommendations by a worker of age, gender and type of care are made in consultation with you. Matching your family to the child’s needs is very important to us.

Does the child need their own bedroom?
Each child in Foster Care needs their own space to do their homework, have play time or simply sit and think, but this does not necessarily mean they need their own bedroom – such a decision depends on the age and gender of the child or young person and the current household structure.

Is there an age restriction for Foster Carers?
There are no age restrictions however we look for carers who are healthy and able to provide for the length of care that they are authorised for.

What if I have a criminal record?
Depending on the nature of the offence, you may still be eligible to become a Foster Carer. Certain crimes, particularly child-related offences, are automatic disqualifiers. We will discuss the results of our Criminal Record Check with you.

Do I get paid to be a Foster Carer?
No. However Carers do receive a fortnightly allowance to meet the day-to-day needs of children or young people in their care. Carers may be entitled to payments from Centrelink however each case is different. Please contact your local Centrelink office for more information. Further information about the allowance is available through the recruitment process.

Do children in Foster Care have contact with their birth family?
Children usually continue to have visits with their own families. In fact, it is very rare that a child will not have contact with their birth parents and extended family. Many of these visits are supervised through our Family Contact Program. The frequency and length of these visits depends on the child’s age and needs.

Do Foster Carers meet the birth family?
This varies according to the needs of the child.

Can I adopt a Foster child in my care?
Foster Care is not a certain path to adoption, but it can happen in certain circumstances.  For more information see Adoption.

How long does it take to become a Foster Carer?
This depends on a number of factors including the scheduling of the Information and Training sessions and your availability for interviews. The average time is 3-6 months.

What will the assessment interviews cover?
Because being a Foster Carer is such an important task, you will be asked about many aspects of your life relevant to being a Foster Carer. In particular we will look at your ability to:

• Draw from and apply your own personal experiences to the tasks of fostering.
• Work with other people, particularly staff from Community Services and CatholicCare, other professionals and birth families.
• Provide good quality day to day care for children that promotes that wellbeing, despite the delays they may show on entering care.
• Provide a safe and nurturing environment.

What if my children do not want a child in Foster Care living with us?
Our staff take all family members’ perspectives into account. If your children are clear that they do not want to share their toys, home and parents with another child, this must be respected. It is important that you speak with your children about fostering and ask them how they feel about it.

I am already a Foster Carer through another service. Can I become a Foster Carer with CatholicCare?
Foster Care agencies in the Hunter have an agreement that Foster Carers can only provide care for one agency at a time. If you wish to become a Foster Carer with CatholicCare you must discuss this with your current agency and sign a Release of Information Form for us to get information about your caring history with that agency. You may need to undergo the training and assessment process again and certainly would need to sign a new Application Form and Criminal Record Check.