Becoming an approved foster carer is a big decision. But it’s likely to be one of the best things you ever do. Although it can be challenging at times, caring for a child or young person in need is hugely rewarding and can completely turn their life around.
The first step to becoming a foster carer is to talk to your family and consider your readiness to take on the role of foster carer. The next step is to make an initial enquiry with Challenge Community Services to find out more about what’s involved in fostering and what qualities we are looking for.
You might be at surprised how possible it is to become a foster carer. Challenge Community Services welcomes loving foster carers from a variety of family and cultural backgrounds. This includes single people, de facto and married couples, and same-sex couples. Some of our foster carers have never had children, some already have a family.
Ready to start the process of becoming a foster carer? Here’s how it works.
1. Meet with a team member
Set up a face to face meeting with a team member, and they will answers an questions, and give you an application form to fill 0ut.
2. Home visit
A Challenge Foster Care team member visits your home to answer any questions you may have and give you any remaining forms to sign (such as the Criminal Record Check).
3. Participate in training
To help you prepare for some of the challenges you may face as a foster carer, all adults in your household attend a 2 to 5 day foster carer training program.
4. Home interview
A Challenge Community Services Foster Care team member visits your home to find out whether you and your family will be able to provide a supportive, safe and caring environment for a child or young person.
We will interview each family member (including children) and ask things like why you and your family are keen to foster, what skills you have and what support you’ll need. We will also check your home to make sure it’s safe and that your first aid certification is up to date.
5. Getting Approved
If your application is approved, you will become an authorised foster carer. Your child or young person to care for and love will soon join your family. There are times when we are not able to approve an application. If this is the case, we will tell you why your application was not successful.
Once you are approved as a foster carer, we will support you all the way with special training, a dedicated case worker and 24-hour support.
If you have boundless love to give and the ability to meet a child or young person’s needs now and into the future, becoming a foster carer will not only make a huge difference to their life but will give your own life new meaning.
Are you ready to become a foster carer? Find out how possible it is to make a difference to a child or young person’s life.
