If you are part of the LGBTQI community, you may be wondering if fostering is something you can do. Well, the answer is yes, most definitely.
We welcome foster carers from all walks of life. At Life Without Barriers we have been supporting same-sex carers for over a decade to provide a safe, stable home for children in need. Here are the top 5 things you need to know if you are part of the LGBTQI community and considering foster care.
We welcome LGBTQI foster carers
We have been an ally of the LGBTQI community for many years. As a non-faith based organisation, we welcome carers from all backgrounds and walks of life. We have been actively recruiting same-sex carers for many years, and we attend several PRIDE events and Fair Days each year to help spread the message about the need for foster carers. When carers Rebecca and Bree reflected on their foster care journey, Bree said "I found some agencies to be more open than others. A lot of people think Rebecca and I are sisters, but when the penny finally drops everyone is cool with it and think it's great.
"The wonderful Life Without Barriers staff have advocated for us in those brief moments where people react bizarrely and it's never been anything of major concern."
— Bree, same-sex foster carer
We support you every step of the way
Once appropriate checks have been done and you are approved as a carer, we continue to support you on every step of the foster care journey. You will have access to specialist training, 24/7 on-call support, financial support, respite and opportunities to meet and connect with other foster carers who really understand what it's like.
First families are important
We know that a child’s birth family will forever be their first family. We believe in family inclusion and we are looking for foster carers who feel the same way. Whether it be through photos, contact visits or working with families to transition a child back home after a period of time in care, we know that children do best when they are connected to their families, wherever it is safe to do so. This means that not all children who enter foster care will remain in care. We support carers and families to work together in the best interest of the child, which can often mean returning to kin.
Not all care is full time, there are different types
Becoming a foster carer can mean different levels of commitment. We are looking for carers to provide the types of care that works best with their life circumstances:
Respite can be one weekend a month or care during the school holidays
Emergency care can often be a few nights or weeks
Short-term care is often for a few week or months while longer term plans are being made
Long-term care is a forever home where the child can heal and grow but still keep in contact with their birth family
Carers from the LGBTQI community love being supported by Life Without Barriers
We have heard from many of our carers how supported and welcomed they feel as both carers and members of the LGBTQI community at Life Without Barriers.
"When we were looking for a fostering agency we looked for support, communication and commitment to be there for us while we are there for those who need our care. Life Without Barriers has been amazing. We feel part of a big family."
— Jo, short-term foster carer
