How to be a foster carer in WA | Life Without Barriers

Why be a carer?

There is currently a critical need to provide foster care in Western Australia.

With almost 50,000 children across Australia who need care each year, fostering a child is primarily about offering a safe, supportive and nurturing home environment.

Where you live can affect some of the criteria you need to tick off in order to become a carer in your state.

Types of care in Western Australia

Fostering a child in Western Australia involves supporting children with many different needs and challenges. Different types of care include:

Emergency/immediate foster care

Short-term foster care

Long-term foster care

Short Break Support

Learn about all types of care

If you want to be a foster carer in Western Australia, there are some boxes you need to tick.

Age
Foster carers need to be at least 18 years old, with relevant life experience, but ideally 25+.
Spare room
A dedicated spare room for fostering is required. Siblings (in care) may share if considered safe and appropriate to do so.
Age of your own children
We know that being able to meet every child in the household’s needs is important, and for this reason we know it is best to match children with carers who’s children are older than they are. If you have a child under the age of 18 months, we would ask that you wait to start your fostering journey once your youngest child turns 2.
Residency
Foster carers need to have the right to permanently live in Australia. This means you need to either be a permanent resident or citizen, or hold a New Zealand citizenship with a special class 444 visa.
Driver’s licence/vehicle
If you are applying to foster with a partner, you will need to have been in a stable relationship for at least two years. Both potential carers will need to be willing participants in the process of becoming a carer.
Partnership requirements
If you are applying to foster with a partner, you will need to have been in a stable relationship for at least two years. Both potential carers will need to be willing participants in the process of becoming a carer.
IVF/adoption considerations
If you (or your partner) are pregnant, attempting to fall pregnant or involved in fertility, surrogacy or adoption processes, foster-care applications are not able to proceed at this time. If you have recently completed assisted fertility treatment, we would ask that you wait 12 months to consider starting your fostering journey, or until your youngest child is 2 years of age.
Smoking
We ask foster carers to abstain from smoking inside the home or vehicle when any child is present.
Health
Foster carers should be in good physical and emotional health and able to meet the needs of children in their care.
Shared parenting
If you and an ex-partner currently share parenting responsibility of children, your child’s other parent must be in full agreement with fostering occurring in your home.
Working With Children Check clearance*
All applicants and household members over 18 must be eligible for a Working With Children Check Clearance. A household member is generally anyone who visits for 21 days, or more, in a year.
National Criminal Record Check clearance
All applicants and household members aged 16 years and older are required by law to undergo a National Police Check. There are some criminal charges that may prevent you from becoming a foster carer, and others that may require further exploration in order to assess your suitability.
Community Services Check
All applicants and household members, aged 16 years and over, are required to undergo a Community Services Check. This is a review of relevant information about an individual held by Communities WA.

*What is a Working With Children Check? A WWCC is a compulsory screening strategy in Western Australia and the Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) Islands, required by a person if they engage in certain paid or unpaid work with children, described as ‘child-related work’ under the WWC Act. The WWC Check includes a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check, but is different from a National Police Certificate because it involves the ongoing collection and assessment of information that is relevant to whether a child may be exposed to a risk of harm should a person engage in child-related work.

Find out more

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Could you be a carer?

Take the foster care self-assessment. It only takes minutes to find out if foster care is something you could do.

Take the quiz

What can I expect as a carer?

Fostering a child in Western Australia with Life Without Barriers means you will receive training, help and support from day one of your journey.

Training

Life Without Barriers will provide you with a range of learning opportunities suited to your own level of experience and the needs of children in your care. This includes access to a large range of eLearning options on topics such as child development, understanding trauma and stress, and healthy living.

Support

Fostering children in Western Australia with Life Without Barriers means you are never alone in your journey. It can be difficult to understand some of the experiences children bring with them, so it’s important that as a carer you feel supported and confident in your role. You will have access to 24/7 support for advice and direction in challenging situations. Also, our specialist staff work with children and carers where additional support is needed.

Aside from the support Life Without Barriers has to offer, all carers in Western Australia can access information and advocacy from Foster Care Association of WA.

Visit them here

MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™

MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™ unites 6 to 10 foster and/or kinship carer homes in a local community, supported by an experienced carer who takes on the role of Hub Home Provider.

The Hub Home Provider is an employed team member who supports carers through providing connection, information, training and emotional support.

For the children, the Hub Home is like a grandparent’s house that is familiar and comfortable. Each child is welcomed by the Hub Home Provider for sleepovers and social events, or if there is difficulty at home and the child and/or carers could benefit from a short break.

Financial support

As a carer you will receive a tax-free allowance to support the individual needs of children placed in your care. Foster carers are volunteers, so this is not considered income and all potential carers need to show they are financially stable when they start their fostering journey. It is important to note that funds provided are for items that the child in your care will need, such as:

Food
Clothing and footwear
Daily travel expenses
Car restraints
Gifts
Educational expenses
Hobbies

Learn more

Carer networking

Talking with other foster carers is sometimes the best form of support. Through regular events and online communities we create opportunities for carers like you to share concerns, celebrate successes and provide feedback to the Life Without Barriers team.