Let’s Yarn About Foster Care
What is Foster Care?
Sometimes children and young people (from birth to 18 years) are unable to live safely at home. Foster carers provide a safe and caring home while parents, caregivers, and families receive support to address the issues that led to a child entering care.
Where possible, children and young people are reunited with their families as quickly as it is safe to do so. Foster care is arranged and supported by the Department for Child Protection, AFSS, and other foster care agencies, only after other options within the child’s family and community have been explored.
In some situations, where serious abuse or neglect has occurred and a child cannot safely return home, long-term foster care may be required until the young person turns 18.
Children and young people may enter care due to abuse or neglect, which can be linked to challenges such as:
- parents or caregivers suffering from a significant mental health condition
- domestic and or family violence
- parents or caregivers drug and/or alcohol abuse
- parents or caregivers having a significant intellectual disability.
Becoming a Carer
Foster care is the care that families provide for children are unable to live with their families. However, if this is not possible, foster carers become involved in assisting the child to maintain strong and positive links with their families.
When you foster a child, you do not have guardianship of that child. Depending on the circumstances, the child’s parents may have full legal rights and responsibilities over the child or the child may be under an order, which means that the Minister of the Department of Education and Child Development (DECD) is the guardian of the child (guardianship refers to who can legally make decisions affecting a child’s wellbeing)
The Role of a Foster Carer
The role of a foster carer is to provide a safe, stable, and nurturing environment for a child who is unable to live with their birth family. Foster carers support a child’s physical, emotional, and developmental needs while offering care, guidance, and consistency.
AFSS foster carers play an important role in helping children maintain strong connections to their Aboriginal culture, identity, and heritage. Carers also support children to stay connected with their birth family and, where possible, work towards reunification.
Foster carers act as a guide and role model, helping children develop the skills needed to build relationships, participate in family and community life, and grow towards independence and self-reliance.
Carers work closely with AFSS Family Support Officers and are part of a wider professional team, including social workers, teachers, doctors, and psychologists, who work together to support each child’s wellbeing.
Foster carers receive a subsidy allowance to help cover the costs of caring for a child. This payment is not a wage, but a contribution towards expenses such as food, household costs, clothing, medical needs, and education. Additional allowances may be provided depending on the child’s age and needs.
“Foster Carers play a vital role in helping children feel safe, supported, and connected to culture”
Frequently Asked Questions
Things people often ask us about Foster Care
1. What do foster carers do?
Foster carers provide a safe, stable and nurturing home for children and young people who are unable to live with their birth families for a period of time. Carers support children’s day-to-day needs, emotional wellbeing, education and health, while helping them stay connected to their family, culture, identity and community wherever possible.
2. What makes a successful foster carer?
Successful foster carers come from all walks of life. What matters most is patience, empathy, reliability and a genuine commitment to providing a safe and supportive environment. Being open to learning, working as part of a team, and understanding the importance of culture, connection and trauma-informed care are key strengths.
3. Can I foster if I am single?
Yes. You do not need to be married or in a relationship to become a foster carer. Single people can and do make excellent carers, providing stable, loving homes and strong role modelling for children and young people.
4. Can I foster if I am in a same-sex relationship?
Yes. AFSS welcomes carers from diverse family structures, including same-sex couples. What matters is your ability to provide a safe, nurturing and respectful home for a child or young person.
5. Can I foster if I am renting/have pets?
Yes. Many foster carers rent their homes and/or have pets. Each situation is assessed individually to ensure the home environment is safe, suitable and supportive for children. Pets are welcomed as long as they are well cared for and safe around children.
6. What support will AFSS provide for me ?
AFSS provides ongoing, wrap-around support to foster carers, including training, regular contact with a dedicated case worker, cultural guidance, 24/7 on-call support, and access to resources and respite options. You are never expected to manage alone — you are part of a supportive team.
7. How much financial support will I receive?
Foster carers receive financial support to assist with the costs of caring for a child, including daily living expenses. The level of support varies depending on the child’s age, needs and placement type. AFSS staff will discuss this in detail during the assessment process, so you clearly understand what support is available.
Types of Foster Care
Emergency carers care for children when their safety is at immediate risk. For this reason, emergency carers are often called on at short notice. The child stays for up to 7 days while a care plan is developed and a short term placement can be found.
Respite carers provide planned care for a child for a short period, typically one or two weekends a month. Respite carers provide crucial support for the child’s parents, guardians or regular foster carers, by giving them a break.
Short-term care can range from 2 weeks to 2 years and is designed to support children during periods of family crisis. It offers a safe, stable and nurturing environment while families work through challenges, ensuring each child’s needs and best interests are met throughout their stay
For some children, returning to their parents or family will not be possible. Long term care is provided until the young person turns 18 years of age. Long term carers become the child’s foster family into the future and commit to securing lifelong relationships.
Specialist care supports children with higher or more complex needs, such as disabilities, medical requirements or the impacts of trauma. Carers receive extra training to provide a stable, therapeutic and responsive environment tailored to each child.
Care provided by a child’s family members or someone with a strong cultural or community connection.
Kinship care helps children stay connected to family, culture, and community.
Want a clear guide to becoming a Foster Carer?
Foster Care Services is available at the following locations
Kilkenny
5/10 – 14 Regency Road
Kilkenny SA 5009
(08) 8297 5708
Berri
23 Denny Street
Berri SA 5343
(08) 8582 3192
Ceduna
28 Poynton Street
Ceduna SA 5690
(08) 8625 3466
Port Lincoln
21 Washington Street
Port Lincoln SA 5606
(08) 8683 1909
Coober Pedy
Lot 1991 Aylett Street
Coober Pedy SA 5723
(08) 8672 3066
Port Augusta
8 -14 Victoria Parade
Port Augusta SA 5700
(08) 8641 0907
Mt Gambier
20 Elizabeth Street
Mount Gambier SA 5290
(08) 8723 6100
Murray Bridge
67 Adelaide Road
Murray Bridge SA 5253
(08) 8532 1790
Get in touch with us today!
Our friendly Foster Care team is here to help! Whether you’re ready to begin your journey or just want to learn more, we’re happy to answer your questions.
Please fill in the initial form or you can contact us directly via the offices above or email us on: