When a child needs emergency out-of-home care, this is who steps up to help

Providing emergency out-of-home care for a child in need is an opportunity that some ordinary Australians call “life-changing”.

Around the state, the NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) calls on emergency foster carers to provide temporary care for young people or children.

The people who answer the call are no different from you or I, or anyone we may know.

The only pre-requisite to apply is your capacity to care. Credit: iStock

The most rewarding role in NSW

Felicity*, 35, signed up to become an emergency foster carer because she used to work in child protection and saw the value of a safe and loving home for young Australians.

“There was such a shortage of carers,” she said.

“So that’s what made me decide to get authorised, because I’ve got a safe home and I could care for young people or children.”

Because there is significant responsibility in being an emergency foster carer, the process to become authorised through DCJ can take around six months, and involves a series of forms, checks and interviews.

Successful applicants also receive extensive training and an ongoing allowance to assist the carer. Although the process comes with its challenges, it more than makes up for it in personal fulfilment.

After going through the process, Felicity is now one year in and said it’s “so nice to actually make a difference”.

“As stressful as it can be at times, I think it is really so rewarding,” she said, offering stories of how her foster children’s behaviour and outlook has transformed.

“I’ve got two little ones in my care at the moment, and I take them to the park and they’re laughing and they’re happy,” she said.

It’s seeing this tangible difference in the children that inspired Julie*, 51, to become a carer. She had her first experience of foster care when she was asked to take in her grandson and his brother, who isn’t a blood relative of hers.

Julie said taking in her grandson went pretty smoothly, as he was used to seeing the routines of regular family life.

“But when his brother joined us, he had no idea,” Julie recalled.

“He had no idea that people cook every night.”

Seeing the change in him sparked a change in Julie.

“The reward of watching him grow as a person made me want to do it again,” she said.

Supporting you to make a difference

While Julie has a husband and grown children, Felicity is single – but both are eligible to be foster carers. In fact, despite some misconceptions, the role is also open to all kinds of families: LGBTQI+ couples, older people, younger people, renters, homeowners, pet owners. The only pre-requisite to apply is your capacity to care.

“I’m in emergency [foster] care because I’m in the stage of my life where I don’t want a child full-time with me,” Julie said.

“I still work, and I’ve raised my kids. I just want to be able to help some kids out while I’m able to.”

Julie adds that she finds great support through the ongoing training offered by DCJ and by the community of other foster carers.

“There’s plenty of people that you can reach out to,” she said.

Felicity agrees. “There’s been times where I have had a really hard day with the kids and I ring another carer, and they just completely understand. It is really nice to not feel alone,” she said.

Despite the challenges that may arise from emergency foster care, both women want to keep opening up their home. “It’s a lovely thing to do and I will do it for as long as I can do it,” said Julie.

“Kids deserve to be happy and safe, and if you can give them a happy, safe home, just do it.”

*Names have been changed for privacy reasons.

To learn more, visit nsw.gov.au/community-services/foster-relative-and-kinship-care/become-a-foster-carer