WA Foster and Family Carers Week is being celebrated from the 28th of July to 3rd of August. We celebrate our carers every day!
WA Foster and Family Carers Week (28 July – 3 August) is an annual event to acknowledge and celebrate the dedication of the 3,300 foster and family carers from across the State.
Everyday Australians open their hearts and homes to children and young people, offering them a safe and supportive environment in which to thrive.
Kate O'Shea, Carer Practice Manager, Child Youth and Family, at Life Without Barriers said carers play a vital role in shaping the future of children and young people who have experienced trauma, loss, or instability.
"From all of us at Life Without Barriers, I would like to thank all of our foster carers in Western Australia," Kate said.
"I feel very, very honoured and privileged to work with you day in, day out. You do an incredible job supporting the children in your care."
Foster carers and kinship carers don’t just provide a roof over a child’s head; they offer love, support, and a sense of belonging. The relationships formed within foster and kinship care can be life-changing, giving children the chance to develop confidence.
Image: Colourful banner with the words '2025 WA Foster and family carers Week.'
Foster and Family Carers Week is not only a time to celebrate carers, but also to raise awareness about the importance of providing out-of-home care and the life-changing role that carers play in shaping the futures of children and young people.
With a growing need for foster carers in Perth and right across Western Australia, we encourage anyone who has been thinking about caring for a young person to reach out or attend one of our free online webinars.
If you are already a carer in WA, make sure you join in on the local celebrations the Department of Communities is throwing. The State Government is also offering foster care families free passes to Perth Zoo, WA Museum Boola Bardip and WA Maritime Museum.
Image: A large group of carers gathered around a table, smiling at the camera, at a carer appreciation brunch.
Life Without Barriers understands the extra need for community when providing care. Programs like MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™ and Care 2 Thrive provide wrap-around supports to foster and kinship carers to create caring homes with family, culture and community. Both of these programs are running in Western Australia.
"MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™ is based on the concept that it takes a village to raise a child, and it's really around connecting families that foster. So, in a constellation we have 8 to 10 families in the same geographical location, with a Home Hub Provider at the centre offering support," said Kate.
"This means the children connect with other young people in care that have the same experience as them and carers can support each other."
Amanda Waller, a carer from one of our MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™ constellations, shared her experience and the positive impact the constellation has had on her family.
"From our very first meeting, Theresa (Home Hub Provider) has made us feel so welcome and has a wealth of knowledge to share with everybody. Theresa was also able to secure us respite, which in the past has been extremely difficult."
"Darrel and I now help with regular respite for two little boys from our constellation as well. Our girls adore them and look forward to having the little tackers over."
"All the children get together along with their foster families for regular catch ups and a play. The children feel safe with the other children and with the adults because they have gotten to know them from our catch ups."
"We have met some amazing families along the way and some lifelong friends as well. We are able to share our experiences, and it feels like we have a family that all have something in common."
"The reason why we chose Life Without Barriers was because of the support we would receive through the MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™ constellation groups, and we have never looked back."
With their guidance, carers lay the foundations for brighter future, whether by helping a child succeed in school, building positive self-esteem, or simply offering a stable home environment in which a young person can feel safe.
For those involved in care, whether as carers, support workers, or advocates, Foster Care Week provides an opportunity to share their stories and experiences with the wider community.
You can read stories from Life Without Barriers carers here.
It also invites others to consider becoming foster carers themselves, opening their homes to children in need and making a profound impact on their lives.
Image: Five staff members and carer ambassadors at a Bunnings sausage sizzle in Geraldton.
Although the week is called 'WA Foster and Family Carers Week', we also acknowledge and celebrate all of our kinship carers and the unique and vital role kinship carers play in the care system. Kinship carers are family members or community who step in to care for children when needed.
Foster and kinship carers are the unsung heroes in our communities, individuals who go above and beyond to support children and young people during some of the most difficult times of their lives. Their work is not just about meeting physical needs, but about offering emotional stability, understanding, and unconditional love.
To all the foster and kinship carers out there: we see you, we appreciate you, and we thank you.
We thank you for opening your hearts and homes. Thank you for choosing Life Without Barriers to walk this journey alongside you.
Image: Staff dressed as Care Bears on the Life Without Barriers float at the Sunshine Festival.
For anyone interested in becoming a foster carer, now is the perfect time to reach out! Becoming a foster carer is a rewarding and transformative experience. You can call our friendly team on 1300 592 227 or email carers@lwb.org.au.
If you are considering becoming a carer with Life Without Barriers in Western Australia, you can find more information here.
MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™
MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™ unites 6 to 10 foster and/or kinship carer homes called Satellite Families in a local community called a Constellation, 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.
Care 2 Thrive
The Life Without Barriers' Care 2 Thrive program provides a safe, stable, and supportive family-based care environment for a child or young person with complex support requirements. Care 2 Thrive is provided by specialist kinship or foster carers who are supported by Life Without Barriers to deliver daily care.
An enhanced carer allowance or reimbursement will be provided directly to Care 2 Thrive carers.
Read more about Care 2 Thrive here.
Foster Care Week is an annual event celebrated at different times in different states across Australia.
