foster care
Foster care is provided to children and young people who are unable to live with their own families.
We aim to help children, young people and their families stay together, but when this is not possible, we need to ensure they will be cared for in a safe environment — by foster carers or other out-of-home care arrangements.
Foster carers take on the responsibilities of a parent for a period of time, to provide a safe, nurturing and secure family environment for children and young people needing care. DoCS’ need for foster carers from a broad range of backgrounds has never been more critical. Find out more about becoming a foster carer and why we need carers.
If you are in care yourself, see our section for young people in care.
Although most children and young people enter care because they are at risk of harm or neglect or because their parent or carer needs periodic relief, it is a very serious decision to place a child away from home. If your child is in care, find out more about your rights and how the process works.
Every effort is made to find a placement that will maintain the child or young person’s local ties with school, family and friends. It is not always possible, but we always try to keep brothers and sisters together.
Foster care could be short term or long term — for one or two nights, a few weeks or months, or even years. Read more about types of foster care.
One of our main goals is for contact to be maintained between all children and young people in care and their birth family. Foster carers are often in contact with the parents of the child in care, and all parties are involved in decisions and planning.
Foster care is a challenging but rewarding job. DoCS provides support and training for foster carers throughout NSW — see all the details in our section for current foster carers.
Foster Care Resources - see our quarterly newsletter for foster carers, the Foster Carer Resource guide and other related resources for foster carers.
