WESLEY DALMAR FOSTER CARE
Become a foster carer. Start your journey today.
Become a foster carer and help change the life of a child in need
Being a foster carer can be incredibly rewarding. Whether you give support during a crisis, offer a safe place temporarily or provide a loving home long term, as a foster carer you can make a positive difference to young people’s lives.
Types of care you can provide as a foster carer
Emergency care
Give a child or young person somewhere safe to stay at a time of crisis. This care is usually at short notice and can range from one day up to four weeks.
Short-term care
Give a child or young person a temporary place to stay until they can return safely to their birth family or find an alternative permanent home. This care ranges from four weeks up to two years.
Permanent or long-term care
Care for a child or young person who is unable to live with their birth family and need long-term support, until they reach independence.
Specialist care
Care for child and young person who has high and complex needs such as challenging behaviours, disability, mental health issues or being part of a large sibling group.
Kinship care
Care that’s given by relatives, family friends or someone the child or young person already has a relationship with the option to become a legal guardian.
Respite care
Give foster carers a much-needed break by offering flexible care for a day, a couple of weeks, school holidays, or one weekend a month.
Can I be a foster carer?
Our foster carers come from all walks of life and can:
- be single or have a partner
- be from any culture or religion
- have their own children
- own or rent their home
- be working or not, studying or retired.
Our foster carers need to be:
- healthy
- over 21
- willing to participate in training and the assessment process
- an Australian citizen or a permanent resident
- willing to undergo background checks.
Find out if you’re eligible to foster with us
Steps to becoming a foster carer
Have a chat
Call us or attend an online information session to learn about fostering.
Home visit
We’ll discuss if your family and home are a good fit and how to apply.
Complete training
Learn strategies to support a child or young person who’s faced trauma.
Assessment interview
We’ll have deeper discussions to determine if your family is suited to fostering
Become a carer
If your application is successful, you’ll be matched with a child or young person.
We’re committed to placing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people with foster carers who are connected to their Community and Culture.
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We’re committed to the NSW Government’s 10-year plan to transfer the care management of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people to Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations (ACCOs).
We’re partnering with local ACCOs and believe they are best equipped to strengthen connections between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people and their kin, community and culture.
Why choose Wesley Dalmar Foster Care?
For more than 130 years, we’ve been putting children and young people’s interests first. Our history of caring continually drives our commitment to help children and young people have safe, stable, loving and nurturing places to call home. When you choose to foster with Welsey Dalmar, know that we’ll be alongside you every step of the way to help you provide a young person with lasting support.
If you have a genuine interest in caring for children, consider becoming a foster carer with us.
How we support our foster carers
24/7 Support
On-call support day or night to help you in a crisis.
Ongoing Training
Access foster care training and support.
Regular case manager support
Monthly supportive visits from your case manager.
Personalised care services
Get referrals to medical specialists, tutors or other Wesley Mission support services.
Resources for student education
Access to educational and scholarship opportunities.
Financial support
Receive an allowance to help cover the costs of caring for a child or young person.
Peer support
Connect with other foster carers in your area.
A break when you need it
Access regular respite to support your wellbeing.
Support from a chaplain
Receive emotional and spiritual support when you need it.
Ordinary people doing extraordinary things
Sarah’s story: Bringing family together, no matter the distance
Separated by countries, it was a long journey for Caitlin* and Nolan* to become Sarah’s* kinship carers. But both agree they’ll be forever grateful to Wesley Mission for bringing them together.
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Carolyn and David’s story: a gift of love
In 1976 Carolyn made a life-altering decision. Standing in the kitchen with her two children at the time, Carolyn heard a call on the radio for foster parents.
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Ethan's story: Gratitude and giving back
Ethan’s journey in foster care started when he was two. He shares how it felt to be raised by people who barely knew him but still loved him as their own son.
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Colleen and Dan's story: The gift of family
When Colleen and her husband, Dan, were unable to have children themselves, they saw it as an opportunity for them to give back by fostering kids who needed a home.
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Shauna’s story: restoring family
When Shuan first welcomed Leo* into her home, her heart expanded with love. Over the last six years, Shaun has fostered eight children, including Leo. And now she’s become Leo’s permanent guardian.
Read moreWhy do children or young people enter foster care?
Foster care is provided to children or young people up to the age of 18 years of age when they’re unable to live with their birth families. Children and young people are placed in care when they’re at risk of significant harm or neglect, or in times of family crisis where the parent or guardian is unable to secure work or housing, experiencing declining health or has a disability. A parent or guardian can also voluntarily seek foster care support for their children. Where possible, children and young people will return home once it’s safe to do so, while others will need foster carers who can give them a permanent home.
Why should I be a foster carer?
Being a foster carer isn’t always easy. But it can be incredibly rewarding. You’ll provide a safe, stable and loving place to call home for a child or young person who may have faced challenging circumstances or trauma. You can use your skills, experience and passion to support children to build resilience as they work through any hardship while helping them adjust to living with a new family. You’ll work alongside an organisation committed to helping people most in need. And you’ll be supported financially, receive professional training and have ongoing support.
Can I foster children of specific age or gender?
Our team will discuss with you any preferences you have including age or gender and will aim to match a child to you that suits your circumstances.
How long will it take to become a foster carer?
It can take up to 12 months to become an authorised foster carer. Depending on which type of care you choose, it could take days, or up to several months to be matched to a child or young person.
Will I have contact with the child’s birth family?
Yes, we believe it’s important to continue fostering positive relationships with their birth family and we encourage you to remain connected with their birth family, community and culture. A case manager will support you to maintain those relationships and have regular, supervised visits with their birth family.
What if I encounter challenges while fostering?
We’ll provide you with ongoing support and access to specialist support services if needed to help you manage any concerns or challenges that may arise.
Where to next?
If you’re ready to take the next step, choose an option below to get started on your foster care journey.
Join an info session
Ask questions about fostering at our one-hour free online information session.
Ask a question
Speak with one of our friendly and helpful foster care specialists today.
Stay connected
Subscribe today to receive our foster care information pack and newsletter.
Become a Wesley Aunty or Uncle
If you’re not ready to become a foster carer, consider becoming a Wesley Aunty or Uncle mentor. You’ll be paired with a child or young person who has faced difficulties in life and needs a supportive role model.
