Foster and kinship care

Any adult who lives in Queensland can apply to become a foster carer with us. Our carers are single people, those with partners, people from different cultural backgrounds, LGBTIQ+, renters, home-owners, full-time workers, those without children, those with children, retirees. You just need to be able to provide a stable, safe and secure home.

Foster carers need to be in reasonable health, have a safe home for children, and be able to obtain a Blue Card (working with children check).

Apply to be a foster carer

Any adult who lives in Queensland can apply to become a foster carer with us. Our carers are single people, those with partners, people from different cultural backgrounds, LGBTIQ+, renters, home-owners, full-time workers, those without children, those with children, retirees. You just need to be able to provide a stable, safe and secure home.

Foster carers need to be in reasonable health, have a safe home for children, and be able to obtain a Blue Card (working with children check).

Apply to be a foster carer

Any adult who lives in Queensland can apply to become a foster carer with us. Our carers are single people, those with partners, people from different cultural backgrounds, LGBTIQ+, renters, home-owners, full-time workers, those without children, those with children, retirees. You just need to be able to provide a stable, safe and secure home.

Foster carers need to be in reasonable health, have a safe home for children, and be able to obtain a Blue Card (working with children check).

Apply to be a foster carer

Any adult who lives in Queensland can apply to become a foster carer with us. Our carers are single people, those with partners, people from different cultural backgrounds, LGBTIQ+, renters, home-owners, full-time workers, those without children, those with children, retirees. You just need to be able to provide a stable, safe and secure home.

Foster carers need to be in reasonable health, have a safe home for children, and be able to obtain a Blue Card (working with children check).

Apply to be a foster carer

Anyone who is either related to the child - e.g a grandparent, uncle, aunt, other extended family member - or someone with an established relationship with the child. Kinship carers need to be in reasonable health, have a safe home for children, and be able to obtain a Blue Card (working with children check).

Apply to be a kinship carer

Once you register your interest with us, we'll call you. We'll encourage you to attend an information session with us, and then to begin your application. As part of the assessment process, we'll visit you at home, do background checks, referee checks, arrange a health assessment and answer all the questions you have. The process takes between 4-6 months.

I'm interested in foster care

The process takes between 4-6 months, from when you first apply to when your first foster child arrives. First, you register your interest with us and we'll call you. We'll encourage you to attend an information session with us, and then to begin your application. As part of the application process, we'll visit you at home, do background checks, referee checks, arrange a health check and answer all the questions you have.

Application process

Not necessarily - this depends on the child and their needs. A young baby may need to be in your room, while an older teen is likely going to want their own space. However, your home does need to have enough space in general for the foster child to be able to relax, play or study.

Anyone with the time, energy and empathy for children who can provide a stable, caring home. Someone who can listen and set boundaries and routines. Many of our foster carers work full-time and are fantastic foster carers. Some already have children, some are sole carers and others are in relationships. 

Learn more about who's eligible

All foster children come from adverse backgrounds. They've been victims of abuse or neglect  and can no longer live at home. Some have challenging behaviours because of this, while others may be more withdrawn and slow to trust, which is why we provide in-depth training and ongoing support to our carers. Through your care and commitment, you'll form a bond, which can, of course, be painful for you if they are eventually able to return home, reunited with their family. But you can be happy in the knowledge that you've helped achieve this positive outcome.

Caring for a foster child

Yes. All of our carers receive comprehensive training before receiving their first child, and then ongoing training when you begin to care for foster children. We have a 24/7 support line for foster carers to call any time, while they have a child in their care.

Learn more about training and support

We have respite foster carers ready to step in so you can take time away - for a day, weekend or a holiday. If you want to take your foster child on holiday, this may be possible - but you'll need to talk to your foster care team first, as there are some circumstances where the Department needs to be aware of the child's travel. 

Learn more about respite foster care

Whenever you have a foster child in your care, you'll receive a fortnightly foster carer allowance that's set by government. The allowance is tax-free, and not considered income by Centrelink or the Australian Tax Office. The allowance changes depending on factors, including a child's age, with the base fortnightly allowance starting at around $525.

While the allowance may not cover all costs associated with caring for a child, it is designed to help meet your day-to-day costs. There are also other allowances on top of the base allowance, that you may be eligible for.

Fortnightly caring allowance

There's also a Carer Business Discount Card, that you'll be eligible for - often offering 10% discounts at many Queensland retailers.

Carer Business Discount Card

We'll be guided by your location and time availability, and ask what age you think works for you best. We'll always give you all the available and relevant information about a child, and the decision to take a foster child will be yours.

Our program

We always try to keep siblings together, wherever possible. Some of our foster carers are able to take two or more foster children from the same family at the one time, but some can't. In these situations, we'll try to keep the children as close together as we can geographically, so they can continue to see each other regularly. We'll also put the different foster carers in contact with each other so they can arrange as much sibling contact as possible.

For full-time carers, this might be a few months or a few years. The goal is always to reunite the child with their family wherever possible, but sometimes this isn't able to be achieved, so the child may be with you for many years.

For short-term carers who provide respite breaks for full-time carers, you'll have a child when you can - on a weekend or during the holidays - depending on your availability.

Learn more about types of care

Any contact will be managed and coordinated by the Department, which determines the level of contact between a foster child and their family. Every family and situation is different. In some cases, there will be regular contact, and the Department will work with you to facilitate this. Many foster carers do establish positive relationships with their foster child's biological family. With other foster children, there may be less contact - it does depend on the individual child's circumstances.