If you have been searching for information about foster care in Sydney and find yourself overwhelmed then this blog is for you. This is an introduction for future foster parents in Sydney who are interested in knowing more about the local foster care system and local support services.
Thousands of children across Greater Sydney are in need of a nurturing and safe environment right now. At Creating Links, we have been supporting foster carers in Sydney for 50 years. From Bankstown to Blacktown, our foster families in our local communities are absolute superheroes who make a huge difference in the lives of our youngest people.
The good news, they do not have to do this alone. There are so many available services in Sydney to support foster families from our newest members to our seasoned superheroes. This guide is designed as an introduction for our newest members and those wanting to know where to start.
What is foster care and how does it work in NSW?
Foster care is an arrangement where a child or young person who cannot safely live with their birth family is placed into the home of an approved carer. In New South Wales, this sits within the Out of Home Care (OOHC) system, overseen by the NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ).
Children may enter foster care for a range of reasons that can range from family breakdown, neglect, domestic violence, or a parent’s inability to provide safe care. In most cases, foster care is not about permanently removing children from their families. The focus is on providing stability, love and support while working towards the best long-term outcome for the child.
There are two ways to become a foster carer in NSW. The first way is to apply directly with the NSW Department of Communities and Justice and the second way is to enquire and apply via an accredited foster care agency like Creating Links.
What are the different types of foster care available in Sydney?
There are four different types of foster care services offered in Sydney that aim to align with the child’s circumstance and needs.
Short-Term or Temporary Care
As the name suggests, this is a brief placement where a child is placed with a carer for a short period of time ranging from one overnight stay to a twelve month period. Short-term care is often the most suitable option while a child’s family situation is being assessed or working towards stability. At the end of a short-term placement, the focus is usually on reunification with the birth family or transition to longer-term care.
Long-Term or Permanent Care
This option is for children who are unable to return to their birth families after spending time in short-term care. Long-term or permanent care may be deemed as the best option for the child to have a stable and permanent family environment. This type of foster care continues until the child turns 18, and at Creating Links, we expect children and foster carers to remain connected well beyond that. Some carers even go on to pursue guardianship or open adoption.
Respite Care
Respite care involves short scheduled stays with a foster family. This could be a few days away, a weekend away or a month at a time. It is designed to provide primary carers with a much-needed break while giving children a positive, safe experience with another family. Respite care is designed as an opportunity for the child’s primary carer to reset and create a positive family home for the child to return to. This is not used as a permanent solution, but rather, one that is designed within the child’s overall foster care plan with the child’s well-being in mind.
Relative or Kinship Care
When a child already knows and trusts a family member or close family friend, kinship care allows that person to become the child’s carer. This helps reduce the instability the child might feel when leaving home and helps to maintain important cultural and family connections.
You can read more about each of these on our Foster Care services page.
Who can become a foster carer in Sydney?
This is perhaps the most important question and the answer is more inclusive than most people expect.
At Creating Links, we welcome carers from all walks of life. There is no single “type” of foster family. Our carers include:
- Married couples and de facto couples
- Single people
- People who rent (you do not need to own your home)
- People who live in apartments or smaller homes
- Families who already have children
- People from all cultural and religious backgrounds
- People in their 20s through to their 60s
What matters most is a genuine commitment to the safety and wellbeing of a child, a stable living environment, and the emotional capacity to provide care. We know it is not always straightforward, which is why our support systems are designed to walk alongside you.
We are particularly proud of our commitment to multicultural communities, ensuring carers from diverse backgrounds feel genuinely welcomed and supported. That being said, we are heavily committed to the safety of our foster children and there is a process in place where all our prospective foster carers are assessed for suitability for initial and continued protection for our children.
What is the process to become a foster carer in Sydney?
The application process can seem daunting, but our team is with you every step of the way. Here is a general overview of what to expect:
- Initial enquiry: You reach out to us by phone, email or through our website.
- Information session: We will walk you through what foster care involves and answer your questions in an honest, no-pressure environment.
- Home assessment: A trained assessor visits your home to understand your family, lifestyle and circumstances. This is a two-way conversation, not an inspection.
- Training: All prospective carers complete mandatory training called DECIDE, which prepares you for the realities and rewards of fostering.
- Authorisation: Once approved, you become an authorised carer and are matched with a child based on your strengths, experience and household.
- Ongoing support: Support provided throughout your journey as a foster carer.
Ready to take the first step? Submit an enquiry or download the application form here.
What support do foster carers receive?
You are not alone in your foster carer journey. At Creating Links, supporting our carers is not an afterthought, it is central to everything we do.
Our dedicated Carer Assessment, Recruitment, Training and Support (CARTS) team provides:
- A dedicated CARTS Coordinator assigned to your family once you are authorised
- 24/7 on-call support, available day and night for advice in stressful situations
- Ongoing specialised training and development to build your skills and resilience
- Access to respite carers when you need a break
- Skilled support workers to assist the child with family visits, sporting groups or youth events
- Regular carer networking events and a closed social media group to connect with other foster families
- Cultural support for children from CALD backgrounds and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
- A financial allowance (tax-free) to help cover the day-to-day costs of caring for the child
Our support system is designed to make the whole process smooth and enjoyable for you and for the children you foster.
Does the child stay in contact with their birth family?
This is one of our most asked questions. In most cases, the answer is yes. Foster care in NSW strongly encourages ongoing contact between children and their birth families where it is safe to do so. This may take the form of supervised visits, phone calls or letters.
This can sometimes be one of the more challenging aspects of fostering, particularly when the circumstances that led to the child entering care are complex or painful. Our support workers and case managers are trained and capable to help you manage these visits and the transitions in a way that prioritises the child’s wellbeing and gives you confidence.
This is particularly important as we believe strongly in the importance of children maintaining their cultural identity and family connections. At Creating Links, we also provide dedicated cultural support to help children stay connected to their communities and heritage while in care.
Will I receive financial support as a foster carer?
Foster carers in NSW receive a tax-free fortnightly allowance to help cover the costs of caring for the child. This is intended to meet the everyday needs of the child including food, clothing, transport, activities and other expenses.
It is important to understand that fostering is not a paid income stream, it is an allowance to cover costs. The motivations of our most effective carers are never financial. That said, the allowance does mean that most families can genuinely afford to foster without cost becoming a barrier from doing so.
The financial support amount varies depending on the age of the child and the level of care required. Our team can walk you through what to expect in detail during your information session.
What happens when a foster placement ends?
One of the most common concerns prospective carers raise is the emotional difficulty of a child leaving their care. It is a legitimate and human concern, and we take it seriously.
Some placements end with reunification and the child returns to their birth family after the family’s circumstances have improved. Other placements transition to long-term or permanent care arrangements. In a few cases, carers may go on to adopt.
Many of our long-term carers have formed deep, lifelong bonds with the children they have cared for. You can read some of these stories on our Foster Care Stories page. The Creating Links model is designed to support you through those transitions with consistent coordinators, peer networks and professional guidance.
Can I foster if I work full-time?
Many of our foster carers work. The type of fostering you can take on may be influenced by your work schedule. For example, respite care is often a great fit for people who work full-time during the week. For longer-term placements of school-aged children, many of our carers do work.
If you are considering fostering a very young child or a child with higher support needs, your availability will be an important part of the assessment conversation. There is no one-size-fits-all answer, and our team will work with you and your lifestyle to find the right match.
Is foster care the right choice for my family?
Only you can answer that question but we are here to help you learn more before making that decision. The families who thrive as foster carers share a few common qualities. They have a stable, safe home environment, they are patient and resilient, they have the support of those around them and they genuinely want to make a difference in a child’s life.
You do not need to have all the answers before you enquire. Our team’s job at the initial stages is to give you accurate information, introduce you to other carers, and help you make an informed decision, not just to pressure you.
You can also browse our FAQs for more answers to common questions.
Take the next step with Creating Links
Creating Links has been serving children, families and communities in Sydney since 1972. Our foster care team is based in Bankstown and actively supports carers across the greater Sydney region, including the Blacktown and Canterbury-Bankstown council areas. If you are considering foster care in Sydney — whether you’re in Bankstown, Blacktown or anywhere across Greater Sydney, we genuinely want to talk with you. Contact Us and find out more today.
