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Foster care in Australia: The real costs and rewards of caring

In this blog, Noel unpacks a recent study that sheds light on the personal costs and quiet rewards of foster care — and why better support for carers is essential to a stronger, more sustainable system.

Caring for carers: Why foster carer well-being and role satisfaction matter

Supporting foster carer well-being is key to a stable and nurturing care system. In this blog, PhD student Amy Miko reflects on the journey that led her to research kinship carer role satisfaction and retention.

A fresh start: reflecting on our first year as a foster care provider

Celebrate one year of foster care in WA with ACF. Discover how our Fresh Start approach helps carers reconnect, heal, and support children through therapeutic care.

Hearts of Gold: Reflecting on Foster Care Week 2023

Foster Care Week, observed from September 10-16, is an annual celebration acknowledging the incredible contribution our volunteer foster carers make to the lives of children in out-of-home care. The theme for 2023 was “Hearts of Gold”, a theme that reflects the type of person it takes to commit to welcoming someone else’s child into their home.

Frequently asked questions by foster carers: Behaviours that challenge

On any given night there are about 18000 children and young people are in foster care in Australia. Most foster carers will be the first to tell you how rewarding it is – but it is also challenging, tiring, and sometimes distressing.

Reflections on the National Kinship, Permanent and Foster Care Conference

At this week’s National Kinship, Permanent and Foster Care conference held in Melbourne, the experiences of pleasure and pain faced by kinship carers were clearly evident. Amidst the stories of love and pride, there were also accounts of deep frustration and distress.