Every 49 minutes, a child in Australia enters foster care. In that moment, their world changes, and with that, so does the life of the carer who opens their door and their heart. This Foster Care Week, 14–20 September, we pause to acknowledge the extraordinary contribution of foster carers who give their time, their homes and their hearts to love children and young people who need it most.
This year’s theme, Time to Care, speaks to the countless hours foster carers dedicate to creating safe, nurturing environments where children can heal and thrive. But time alone isn’t enough. To truly give carers the time to care, we must ensure they have the resources, recognition, and support they need to succeed.
Foster carers are the quiet frontline of care. They may not wear uniforms, but every day they carry the responsibility of keeping children safe and feeling loved. They deserve to be valued and recognised as much as any other frontline volunteer.
This week, we do just that, from general foster carers to specialised carers, and those who provide care on a short-term relief, giving other carers a break – together as one, they are showing up for children and young people.
Not everyone has what it takes to be a foster carer. We see firsthand the incredible difference you all make, from helping children heal from past traumas and behavioural issues, to supporting them as they develop confidence and new skills, ready for another go at life.
Home-based care is critical to achieving better outcomes for children and young people, and by giving carers the resources and recognition they need, we can make sure that every child in foster care has what every child deserves: safety, opportunity, and hope for the future. While not everyone can be a carer – everyone can care. Show your support for carers by contributing to our Foster Care Week Appeal, or supporting our advocacy for carers here.
To the amazing OzChild village, this Foster Care Week, we say thank you for giving your time to care!
“My role as a foster carer is not what i thought it would be – it is challenging, surprising, and fulfilling, but most of all, it’s totally worthwhile. My only regret is I didn’t do it sooner!”– Rachel, OzChild foster carer
Every 45 minutes a child enters the out-of-home care system in Australia. The sad reality is the number of children and young people needing care is not slowing down and the number of people signing up to become carers is falling short. Could you care?
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“new block My role as a foster carer is not what i thought it would be – it is challenging, surprising, and fulfilling, but most of all, it’s totally worthwhile. My only regret is I didn’t do it sooner!”– Rachel, OzChild foster carer
Families Australia has announced the appointment of Dr Lisa J. Griffiths as its new Chair of the Board, following the transition of outgoing Chair Deb Tsorbaris to the role of Australia’s National Children’s Commissioner.
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