Thinking about becoming a foster carer but not sure which type of fostering is right for you? Australia’s foster care system offers a range of options to suit different needs and lifestyles. Did you know that nearly 50,000 children cannot live safely at home across Australia?
Each of these children needs a safe and loving place to stay, whether for a night or for years. In response, various types of fostering in Australia have been developed – from short-term care to long-term placements – so that carers can help in the way that works best for them and the child.
Australia’s foster care programs include short-term, long-term, emergency, respite, and specialist care, among others. Understanding the differences between these types of foster care is key to finding the best fit for your family. In this friendly guide, we’ll explain each type of foster care, compare short-term vs long-term foster care, and even discuss emergency foster placements and other special categories. By the end, you should have a clearer idea of which fostering arrangement might be right for you.
Different Types of Fostering in Australia
Australia’s child protection system recognizes several main types of foster care placements. While each state may use slightly different terms, the following categories are common nationwide. Here we break down what each type involves and who it might suit, with examples to bring them to life.
Short-Term Foster Care
Short-term foster care provides a temporary home for a child for a limited period – typically anywhere from a few weeks up to around two years. The goal is usually to give the child’s birth family time to resolve issues or recover from a crisis so the child can safely return home. During a short-term placement, foster carers work closely with caseworkers and the child’s family toward reunification.
For example, a short-term foster carer might look after a 7-year-old girl for six months while her parent undergoes rehabilitation. During this time, the carer provides stability and care, takes the child to school and activities, and often facilitates contact visits with the birth family. Short-term fostering can be an emotional journey – you bond with the child but also prepare to say goodbye when they return to family or move to a long-term placement. It’s a great option if you want to make a difference without a lifelong commitment, and you’re comfortable with change and supporting reunification.
Long-Term Foster Care
Long-term foster care involves caring for a child on a permanent or long-duration basis when they cannot return to their birth family. In Australia, long-term placements generally last until the child turns 18 (or even longer under new extended care programs). These are children for whom reunification isn’t possible, so they need a stable, loving home to grow up in. Long-term foster carers essentially become a child’s family for the remainder of their childhood – providing stability, love, and support through school years, teenage challenges, and milestones.
For instance, a long-term foster carer might welcome a 10-year-old boy into their home and raise him through adolescence because his parents are unable to care for him. The carer will celebrate birthdays, help with homework, teach him to drive – all the things a parent would do – until he becomes an adult. Long-term fostering is ideal if you’re able to commit for the long haul and want to form a lasting bond. You’ll be providing consistency and a sense of belonging to a young person who truly needs a “forever” home (even if formal adoption is not in place). It’s a big commitment but also incredibly rewarding to watch a child heal and thrive in your care.
Emergency Foster Placements (Crisis Care)
Emergency foster care (also called crisis care) provides immediate, short-term care for children who suddenly need a safe place to stay. Emergency placements can be as brief as one night or up to a couple of weeks. These often occur after-hours or on very short notice – for example, if a child is removed from an unsafe situation in the middle of the night, an emergency carer steps in. The aim is to keep the child safe until a more stable plan (like a short-term or kinship placement) is arranged.
Imagine getting a call at 2:00 AM about two siblings who need a home right now due to a family crisis. As an emergency foster carer, you’d wake up and prepare your spare room on the spot. You might care for those siblings just for a few days or weeks until they either go back to family or move to a longer-term carer. Emergency foster placements require flexibility and patience – you have to be ready for unpredictable timing and emotionally support children who are likely scared and confused. Carers in this role are truly on the front line, providing love and stability at a critical moment. If you have a flexible schedule, a calm demeanor in crises, and room in your home on short notice, emergency fostering could be a fitting choice.
Respite Foster Care
Respite foster care (also known as short-break care) involves caring for a child for short, planned periods to give their usual carers or family a break. This could be one weekend a month, a few days during school holidays, or an overnight stay on occasion. Respite care is a bit like being the cool aunt/uncle or grandparents – you look after the child for brief periods, providing fun and stability, and then they return to their primary carers recharged.
For example, you might host a 5-year-old boy for a weekend to give his full-time foster parents a chance to rest and recharge. During the weekend, you might take him to the park, cook meals, and maintain his normal routine. Respite fostering is part-time fostering – it doesn’t require the 24/7 commitment of full-time care, making it perfect for people who work weekdays or have other obligations but still want to help. It’s also a lifesaver for other foster families or struggling parents who benefit from trusted support. Consistency is important in respite; often the same respite carer will look after the same child periodically, so they can form a relationship. If you have limited availability or just want to support foster children and families occasionally, respite care could be an ideal option.
Specialist Foster Care (Therapeutic Care)
Specialist foster care, sometimes called therapeutic foster care or specialised care, is a type of fostering for children with complex needs. These may be kids who have experienced significant trauma, have challenging behaviors, or live with disabilities or special needs. They require carers with extra training, skills, and patience. Specialist foster carers receive additional support and training to help the child heal from trauma or manage their needs. The placements can be short-term or long-term, depending on the child’s situation, but the key is that a higher level of care is provided.
For instance, you might care for a teenager who has been through abuse and has emotional and behavioral challenges. As a specialist carer, you would work closely with a support team – therapists, social workers, doctors – to follow a care plan tailored for that teen. You’d learn techniques to handle trauma-related behaviors and help them build trust and life skills. Another example could be fostering a 6-year-old with a developmental disability, which might involve attending additional medical appointments and therapy sessions, and adjusting your home environment for their needs. Specialist fostering can be intensive, but it’s incredibly impactful. Carers often describe seeing transformations in these children as they receive the patience, understanding, and therapeutic care they need. If you have a background in education, healthcare, or simply a big heart and willingness to learn specialized skills, this type of fostering might suit you well. (And don’t worry – agencies provide training and 24/7 support to specialist carers so you’re never alone in meeting the child’s needs.)
Kinship Care (Relative Care)
Kinship care is a unique category of out-of-home care where a child is cared for by relatives or family friends instead of by unrelated foster carers. In Australia, whenever possible, child protection tries to place children with someone they already know and trust – grandparents, aunts/uncles, older siblings, or close family friends. These kinship carers go through an approval process similar to foster carers, but they are only authorized to care for that specific child or sibling group. Kinship care helps children maintain family bonds and cultural connections, which can be very important for their identity and wellbeing.
An example of kinship care would be a grandmother stepping up to care for her three grandchildren when their parents are unable to. She becomes their full-time carer, providing them stability within their extended family network. While kinship carers aren’t usually “recruited” in the same way as general foster carers (since they are found based on the child’s existing relationships), it’s good to know this option exists. If you have a family member or close friend’s child in need, you might already be in a position to become a kinship carer. Kinship carers often receive the same support and training as other foster carers, and they play a crucial role in keeping kids connected to their roots.
Short-Term vs Long-Term Foster Care: Key Differences
Both short-term and long-term foster care are vital, but they involve different commitments and goals. Here’s a quick comparison of short-term vs. long-term foster care to help you understand the differences:
- Placement Duration: Short-term care is temporary, lasting anywhere from a few weeks to up to 1–2 years. Long-term care, on the other hand, continues until the child turns 18 or can live independently, which could be many years or even the remainder of their childhood.
- Primary Goal: Short-term fostering usually aims for reunification – the hope is the child can return to their birth family once issues are resolved. Long-term fostering focuses on providing permanence and stability when reunification isn’t possible, essentially becoming the child’s family for the long run.
- Emotional Commitment: In short-term care, you enter knowing the placement will likely end; you’ll support the child through transitions and then have to say goodbye (which can be tough!). In long-term care, you commit to a deep, parental relationship, bonding with the child as they grow up.
- Involvement with Birth Family: Short-term carers often work closely with the child’s birth parents and caseworkers, facilitating regular visits and helping the family heal. Long-term carers may have less frequent birth family contact (depending on the case plan), and sometimes they may become legal guardians or even adopt the child if allowed.
- Lifestyle Considerations: Short-term care can involve a higher turnover of children – you might care for multiple kids over several years, one after another. It’s great if you’re adaptable and resilient. Long-term care means fewer changes – you focus on one child or sibling group for a long period. It’s ideal if you desire a consistent family life and the chance to have a lasting impact on a child’s life.
Both types have their challenges and rewards. Short-term foster care offers the satisfaction of helping many families get through crises, while long-term foster care lets you truly nurture a child into adulthood. Some carers even do both at different times in their life, depending on their capacity. Think about your personality, schedule, and emotional readiness when deciding between these two paths.
How to Choose the Right Type of Fostering for You
With so many fostering options, how do you figure out which one fits you best? The “right” type of foster care for you will depend on your lifestyle, flexibility, and what you’re hoping to get out of the experience. Here are some pointers to help you decide:
- Short-Term Care might suit you if… you can provide a stable home for a child temporarily. This is a good choice if you’re okay with change and farewells – you’ll nurture children knowing your role is to help them during a rough patch and then let them go home or to a permanent family. It’s also great if you’re new to fostering and want to start with a shorter commitment.
- Long-Term Care might suit you if… you’re ready to treat a foster child as part of your family for the long haul. Choose this if you have the stability, support network, and heart to raise a child into adulthood. You’ll need to be prepared for all the ups and downs of parenting over years. Many who choose long-term fostering feel called to give a child a forever family when the child can’t return to their own.
- Respite Care might suit you if… you have limited time or a busy life but still want to help. Maybe you work full-time or have other commitments, but you’re free on occasional weekends or school holidays. Respite is also a great option if you’re feeling unsure about diving into full-time care – it allows you to experience fostering on a part-time basis. You should be good at maintaining routines and jumping in quickly, since the child will only be with you briefly.
- Emergency Care might suit you if… you have a very flexible schedule and a calm, adaptable personality. You’ll be on-call for crises, which could mean midnight phone calls or unplanned disruptions. If you don’t mind unpredictability and you have a big heart for helping kids in urgent need, this role could be incredibly fulfilling. It often helps if you don’t have very young children of your own (so you can focus on the crisis placement), but many emergency carers do have families – it all depends on your support system and ability to handle sudden changes.
- Specialist Care might suit you if… you have experience or interest in working with children who have special needs or trauma. Perhaps you have a background in healthcare, counseling, education, or you’re just willing to learn therapeutic parenting techniques. You’ll likely engage in extra training and teamwork with professionals. This type of fostering can be intensive, but if you’re passionate about making a profound difference for kids who need extra care, it could be your calling.
- Kinship Care is usually only an option if a child in your extended family or community needs help. In other words, you don’t choose kinship care unless you’re connected to a child at risk. However, if you ever find a relative’s child in need, stepping up as a kinship carer keeps the child within their family environment. Kinship carers get support too, so you won’t be alone in the journey.
As you reflect on these options, consider practical factors like your home space, work commitments, and family support. Are you able to take a child to school every day or handle frequent appointments? Do you want a long-term family addition, or would you prefer to help many children one after the other? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer – every fostering role is valuable. You might even start in one type (say, respite) and later move to another (like long-term) as your confidence and life situation evolve.
Conclusion
In Australia, there are many types of foster care to suit different children’s situations – and different carers’ capacities. Whether you provide a safe haven overnight in an emergency or open your home to a child for years, each type of fostering plays a crucial part in the child protection system. The most important thing is that vulnerable children get the care and stability they need, for however long they need it.
By now, you should have a clearer picture of short-term vs long-term care, emergency foster placements, respite care, and more. Perhaps one of these descriptions resonated with you and your lifestyle. No matter which type of fostering you choose, you’ll be making a life-changing difference for a young person in need of love and support. If you’re still unsure, you can reach out to local fostering agencies for more information; they often have information sessions where you can learn more about what each role involves.
Ultimately, the “right” type of foster care is the one that you can commit to and feel passionate about. Every child is different, and so is every foster carer – there’s a place for everyone in the fostering community. Whichever path you take, you’ll be contributing to a brighter future for Australia’s kids in care. So take that step, get informed, and see where you can help. Your journey in fostering might just change a child’s life – and enrich your own.