Foster Care
Foster Care
Foster Carers needed across New South Wales.
There are nearly 20,000 children in New South Wales in need of a loving home.
By providing a safe, nurturing and stable family environment, you can help turn around the life of a vulnerable child or young person.
Ready to take the next step? Fill in an enquiry form and we will be in touch to walk you through the process of becoming a carer. Prefer face-to-face? You can meet one of our team at your home or a public space and they can answer any questions you might have, and explain what’s involved with becoming and being a carer with Challenge.
Types of care
There are many ways to make a difference to a child or young person’s life. You may be ready to commit to full time care, or you can offer care on a part-time basis.
Long term:
- Guardianship.
- Foster to adopt.
- Long-term care.
- Intensive Therapeutic Care (ITC) step-down care.
Short-term:
- Respite care.
- Crisis care.
- Short-term care and restoration.
Find out more about the types of care that is available.
Why Choose Challenge?
Challenge Foster Care has a focus on the human connection, on relationships and on people. In the same way that the Out of Home Care Standards look to ensure children and young people in foster care experience a sense of belonging and identity, connection to community and participation in decisions, so too does Challenge apply these standards to our work with carers.
To Challenge staff, our carers are integral to a child’s care team; supporting a sense of genuine partnership and belonging. Challenge connects carers to a range of community supports and seeks authentic participation in decisions relating to the care needs of children
We acknowledge the work of a foster carer is unique. People who choose to support children and young people in foster care are special individuals who deserve special attention.
Who can foster?
We welcome loving foster carers from a variety of family and cultural backgrounds. This includes retirees, 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.
Once you become an authorised foster carer for Challenge Foster Care, you will become a part of our team dedicated to supporting the children and young people in your care. As part of the Challenge team, you will take part in planning and decision making for the child or young person in your care. You will also receive a reimbursement carer allowance from Challenge Foster Care and may be eligible for additional supports. Find out more about how we support our carers.
Regions we cover
Challenge Foster Care provide care and support across New South Wales. From Ballina to Albury, and out west to Dubbo. We pride ourselves on being connected with our communities and our dedicated staff in our local offices know the area, and the people like the back of hands.
- New England – Tamworth, Armidale
- Hunter – Maitland
- Greater Sydney – Camden, Rosehill,
- Mid North Coast - Coffs Harbour
- Central Coast
- Murray Region – Albury
- Central West – Dubbo
Find your local office here.
Urgent carers required for children living in supported care.
There are currently children and young people in New South Wales area who are unable to live with their parents and are doing it tough. Really tough. Some are living in motels, existing in an uncertain limbo, with a series of rostered paid carers to look after them. Through no fault of their own, these children are unable to stay with their families and have no loving foster home to give them sanctuary, due to a desperate shortage of foster carers.
Find out more about the children and young people that are in URGENT need of a carer or family to support them.
Curious about fostering for permanency?
"Fostering for permanency: Giving children and young people a safe home for life"
Learn effective tools to help with your child's behaviour
"10 Ways to Help Children With Challenging Behaviour"
Whether you are giving a child a permanent home or stepping in to help in a crisis, being a foster carer is a hugely rewarding and life-changing experience.
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