Specialist Care

When Foster Carers invite children or young people in need to be a part of their family, whether that’s for a short time or a long time, it has the potential to be life-changing; for both the carers and the children. Fostering is both challenging and rewarding. Carers provide emotional support and care for a child’s day-to-day needs and support the child in their educational and recreational activities.

To become a Foster Carer, you will undergo an assessment process where your maturity, health and lifestyle is considered within the context of the type of care you would like to provide. Some of the characteristics and personal qualities of successful Foster Carers include flexibility, teamwork, communication, acceptance, playfulness and a commitment to lifelong learning. Carers are everyday members of the community who have a strong commitment to helping others, especially children. Unfortunately, our community needs more everyday people who are able to offer caring homes to children and young people who cannot live with their birth families. Foster Carers help children feel safe and secure while separated from their birth parents. Successful Foster Carers in both Generalist and Specialist Foster Care share many characteristics, however there is a unique eligibility criteria and skillset we are looking for in Specialist Foster Carers to meet the needs of children and young people in Specialist Care.

Children are at the centre of what we do, and we ‘the village for children and young people’ work together as a Care Team to meet the needs and serve the best interests of each individual child in care. Foster Carers, Lutheran Care (LC) Support Workers and Social Workers who work on behalf of the Department for Child Protection (DCP), actively participate in the Care Team to ensure that any decision which is made on behalf of the child is in the best interests of the child. Lutheran Care Foster Carers work with the child’s allocated DCP Case Worker and their Lutheran Care Support Worker as part of the Care Team to achieve the set goal or plan for the child.

Yes! Lutheran Care actively supports many Foster Carers who are single or are the sole resident of the home. Single Foster Carers can make great foster parents regardless of their sexual orientation. Couples can also foster. Couples can be married or in de facto relationships.

Absolutely! We proudly journey alongside and support many same-sex foster families who are each providing exceptional care to the children and young people in their care.

Yes, you can foster. The Foster Carer assessment is not dependent on your assets. However, you do need to demonstrate that you can provide safe and adequate accommodation where a child can live, play and sleep and that you are financially capable of supporting an additional child in your home. As part of the assessment process, pet hygiene and safety will be considered to determine that your home is suitable for caring for children and young people in care.

Every Foster Carer at Lutheran Care is allocated a dedicated Foster Care Case Worker (also known as a Foster Care Support Worker) who supports them in their fostering journey. Lutheran Care Support Workers journey with our Foster Carers to provide practical assistance, professional advocacy or a listening ear. Support workers can also advocate on behalf of the Foster Carer for training, resources or access to support services. We provide a 24/7 telephone line dedicated to our Foster Carers, so there is always someone from Lutheran Care at the other end of the phone to provide support, advice or assistance whenever it is needed.

Yes, there is a Foster Carer allowance paid to registered Foster Carers which varies depending on the needs of the children and young people in your care and the type of fostering you provide. In the general sense, this is considered financial assistance to reimburse and help cover the costs of the children in your care and is not considered an income.