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Foster Care
Our services

Foster Care

Register your interest

Interested in our foster care services or in becoming a foster carer?

Please fill this form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

“It’s about giving a young person a place where they feel safe and belong.”

What is Foster Care?

Foster Care is providing a secure and safe home for children who can’t live at home safely at this time. Children need care for all sorts of reasons, including families being unable to keep children safe for either short or long periods of time. Whatever the reason, these children all need safe and caring environments for however long it takes whilst problems in their families are resolved and, wherever possible, the children can return home safely. If they can’t return home safely, it is still important they have lifelong connections with their family and significant others that is encouraged by the care team around the child and young person.

The full roll out of the Permanency Support Program from July 2018 is one is one of the most significant changes made to the NSW child protection and foster care systems in decades. The program is a government and sector-wide reform to child protection and out of home care practice and culture and supports the safety, well-being and positive life outcomes for children and young people in the child protection system in NSW.

Who can be a foster carer?

Our community of foster carers come from all walks of life. We believe that everyone is created equal and we welcome care applications from anyone who shares our belief - that all children and young people deserve to feel loved, safe and supported.

We actively promote safety and inclusion for LGBTIQA+ people, First Nations peoples and anyone who is currently diverse, ageing, vulnerable or living with disability. It doesn’t matter whether you’re single, in a relationship, working, studying or retired, if you have the time and space to provide a supportive and nurturing home for a foster child, you’ve got what it takes to consider being a foster carer.

Foster care arrangements

You don’t have to be ready for a long-term commitment to get involved. We currently have children waiting for families who can offer anything from a couple of days to a few months while we work with their families to improve their circumstances.

Respite care

“Respite care is a great way to get a feel for fostering without being overwhelmed. Samaritan staff are always available and supportive.”

Respite care is a great option if you are considering becoming a foster carer and would like to see if it is right for you and your family.

Respite care normally occurs one or two weekends a month and sometimes even a week in the school holidays. It’s a great way for children in foster care to build additional positive relationships and experiences outside their current foster care arrangements, and also allows fostering families to have a bit of a break from their fostering duties.

If you want to test if foster care is right for you, then respite carer is a great first step. Call us on 1300 656 336 or or follow the link below to speak with our care team and register your interest.

Become a respite foster carer

Emergency care

Emergency carers open their homes to children and young people who require immediate care to keep them safe.

If you have a spare bedroom set up ready to go and you’re happy to welcome a child or young person into your home at any time of the day or night, then we welcome the opportunity to speak with you about becoming an emergency foster carer.

Call us on 1300 656 336 or follow the link below to register your interest and a member of our care team will be in touch.

Become an emergency foster carer

Short to medium term care

As a short term foster carer, you will provide safety and stability for a child or young person for anywhere from a few nights to a few years. The ultimate goal of any foster care arrangement is to see children reunited with their family. As a short-term foster carer, you will play an important role in providing a positive and supportive space for your foster child while restoration is being explored, or a more permanent care arrangement can be organised.

If you’re ready to become a foster carer, give our care team a call on 1300 656 336 or follow the link below to register your interest.

Become a short term foster carer

Long term care

Long term care is for a child or young person who cannot live safely with their own parents or family members. This type of care last longer than two years and is more permanent. As a long-term carer, you will be welcoming a child or young person into your family anywhere from two years up until they reach 18 years old, or until they are ready to live independently.

If you’re ready to become a foster carer, give our care team a call on 1300 656 336 or follow the link below to register your interest.

Become a long term foster carer

Relative or Kinship Care

Kinship care is when a child or young person lives with and is cared for by another family member, a family friend or someone they already know. This is a preferred option for a child or young person as it can keep them connected to their family, their culture and their wider social networks and community.

If you have a family member requiring kinship care, call us on 1300 656 336 and our care team can help guide you through the process of preparing you and your family for kinship care.

Become a Relative or Kinship Carer

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"We have had two little girls for nearly three years and getting these girls home to their mum would be the bees’ knees. Not that we want to part with them, but we know they should be home with mum. That’ll be a happy ending."
-Kay, Foster Carer for 20 years

Get started

Why foster through Samaritans?

Samaritans is a non-profit organisation, and the social services arm of Newcastle Anglican. We have been providing services to the Newcastle, Central Coast and mid-North Coast for more than 40 years and have over 100 support services across the region. Our services provide support to many people in need, including foster care for children and young people through our foster care communities across Newcastle, the Central Coast and Mudgee.

Our values: Samaritans are guided by the organisational values of compassion, integrity, courage, wisdom and faith. These values influence our service in case work when assisting with families, carers and young people. Samaritans offer a nurturing therapeutic approach when working with children who have experienced trauma and abuse.
Training and support: Samaritans has a designated team which is focused solely on supporting the carer on their foster care journey. The Care and Development team will support you as a carer with the day-to-day challenges that fostering can involve, assist with training opportunities, and provide you with someone to debrief or chat with on a regular basis.
24-hour on call: Samaritans has a designated on-call team that can assist in times of emergency or crisis outside normal office hours. The service ensures that you can always reach out to the agency to have your questions answered or for support in challenging times.
Diversity and Inclusion: Samaritans believes that everyone is created equal and welcomes care applicants from all walks of life. We actively promote safety and inclusion for LGBTIQA+ people, First Nations peoples and anyone who is currently diverse, ageing, vulnerable, or living with disability.
Financial assistance: Samaritans carers will receive a care allowance to support the cost of caring for a child in care. The Samaritans allowances align with the disadvantages of caring for a child such as meals, clothing, medical expenses, travel gifts and education expenses.

Debunking the myths

I can't be a foster carer because I don't own my own home

It doesn’t matter whether you rent or own your own home you can foster either way, you just need to have enough space for a child such as a spare room.

I can't foster because I'm too old

There are no age limits on fostering children and young people. In fact, many people come to fostering later in life after their own children have grown up and left home.

I can't foster because I'm in a same-sex relationship

We welcome LGBTIQA+ foster carers. We're looking for people with big hearts who can provide a stable and loving home.

I can't foster because I'm single

You don't have to be in a relationship to become a foster carer, and you can access all the same support as other carers. Stability is important, as well as a supportive and nurturing environment.

I'd love to foster but my children still live at home

You can have your own children living at home and be a foster carer. You've got valuable parenting experience to offer and that can benefit your own children, as well as a foster child or young person.

I can't foster because I don't want to give up work

Many foster carers work. The amount carers work can depend upon the age of the children and young people in their care. The amount you work can make a difference to the type of fostering that would be best suited.

I can't be a foster carer, I don't have children of my own

You don't have to have children to be a foster carer, we provide training to equip you with the skills you need to succeed on your foster care journey.

Next steps

Register your interest through the form below and a member of our Care Development team will be in contact to provide you with an information pack. They will also organise to visit you in your home to talk you through the process and answer any questions you may have.
Attend our Shared Lives training one-day course at our office to equip you with the tools needed for a successful foster care journey.
Complete the Care Assessment tasks which includes several interviews with your Case Manager so they can learn more about you and your family and identify the skills and experience that you will bring to the role of foster carer.
Your Case Manager will submit your application to the panel for review. The panel will review your application and advise whether they will grant carer authorisation.
Authorisation and family matching is the final step. Samaritans will work with you to match a child to your preferences. You will also receive your authorisation letter.
Ongoing support and training will be provided by our Care Development team along your journey, answering questions you may have, as well as providing training and regular contact visits.

Ready to find out more about becoming a foster carer? Complete the form below and a member of our team will be in touch to organise an information session.