Who Can Foster?
Who can Foster?
So, you are thinking of becoming a foster carer? There are a number of things you need to know before deciding whether it’s right for you. This includes finding out what fostering involves, how the process works and thinking about how fostering will affect you, your family and your extended family or networks.
Everyone has an opportunity to foster however you have to meet the legislative requirements, which include that you:
- are at least 18 years of age,
- must be willing to undergo a suitability assessment (conducted by the Central Screening Unit) in regard to the applicants child protection and personal history and
- must be willing and able to complete pre-service training and additional training if required to meet the individual needs of any children placed in their care.
However, fostering is open to a variety of people, with no restrictions based on race, cultural identity, sexual orientation or home ownership. The decision is based upon your ability to provide a safe, caring and supportive environment for children and young people.
Althea Projects Foster and Kinship is looking for people and families who want to make a difference to children and who have the personal qualities to make a real difference to the lives of children and young people in out of home care. These qualities include:
- Loving, caring, kind and respectful
- Open, honest and patient
- Tolerant, flexible and non-judgmental
- Understanding and be empathetic towards children’s grief and loss
- Be able to persevere with a child or young person’s challenging behavior/s
- Can be from any cultural background
- Must be over 18, with relevant life experience
- Can be single; defacto, married or same sex couples; with or without children
- Should be keen to continue learning and developing their skills
- Should have a regular source of income to meet their own family’s needs
- Be able to have space for another child in their home – can be renters or owners
- Should be ready to welcome a child in to their family
- Are able to focus on meeting the needs of children in their care including their educational and health needs as well as other activities such as sport or music
- Should have willingness to support the child to develop a sense of identity which includes the child’s culture, language and religion, where appropriate
- Have commitment to work with a child’s family and a team of professional stakeholders for better outcomes
Could this be you?
If you would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on (07) 4779 3332 or enquire online at foster@altheaprojects.org.au or via the Contact Us page. You can also check out the Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs webpage for further information https://www.qld.gov.au/community/caring-child/foster-kinship-care-who-can-foster.
