Become a Carer
Play a vital role in the lives of Aboriginal children and young people.
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With 41.2% of children in out-of-home care being Aboriginal, we need more families to become carers and provide the culturally rich care that Aboriginal children need to thrive. An Aboriginal child’s cultural identity is an important part of who they are. Children who are strong in their culture have higher self-esteem, confidence, and expectations of what they can achieve.
Wherever possible, we try to place Aboriginal children safely within their extended Aboriginal family, community, or with other Aboriginal carers who can support them to build their identity and sense of belonging. We support all carers of Aboriginal children to provide culturally enriched care and maintain children’s connections to their family, community, culture, and Country.
Aboriginal children now make up 44% of children in out-of-home care in New South Wales, despite only making up 5% of children in the state. They are 10 times more likely to be in out-of-home care than non-Indigenous children and young people.
We need your support
Over one-third of children in care are Aboriginal, but there are not enough Aboriginal carers to support them. AbSec is committed to ensuring our children and young people remain connected to community and culture to keep their identity strong and alive.
You can apply to become a foster carer if you’re over 18, have Australian citizenship or permanent residency, and are in good physical and emotional health. You can be:
- Single, married, or in a de facto or same-sex relationship
- A homeowner or renter
- From any culture and with a diverse range of life experiences
- A parent or someone with no biological children
If you are interested in becoming a carer, please contact AbSec or an Aboriginal out-of-home care agency to discuss the next steps.
You do not have to be a saint. You don't have to be perfect. We're not saints, we're not perfect. But you have to genuinely care about kids.
– Jo Mara, foster carer
The importance of Aboriginal foster carers
Aboriginal foster carers play a vital role in the lives of Aboriginal children and young people by raising them in a safe, secure, loving environment that is strongly connected to culture. An Aboriginal child’s cultural identity is an important part of who they are. Children who are strong in their culture have higher self-esteem, confidence, and expectations of what they can achieve.
While there is no such thing as the ‘perfect’ carer, people interested in becoming carers will need some of the following qualities:
Flexibility and adaptability
Be able to learn new things, experience new situations, and be prepared to have days that don’t always turn out as you had planned.
Tolerance and patience
Be able to take things one day at a time and work towards goals while appreciating it may take a long time to get there.
Perseverance
Be able to ‘hang in there’ and appreciate that things often do take a while to change.
Understanding
Be able to put yourself in ‘someone else’s shoes’ and appreciate how a child is feeling or understand the reasons for their behaviour.
Resources for prospective carers
The Aboriginal Foster Carer Recruitment Manual was developed as a guide to assist Aboriginal out-of-home care agencies in the recruitment of Aboriginal foster carers. It provides a framework for recruitment efforts, practice wisdom, food for thought, and practical tools for staff involved in the recruitment of foster carers.
The manual offers a structured framework to guide recruitment activities, ensuring they are effective and culturally sensitive. It includes best practices for engaging with potential carers and highlights the importance of community involvement. Drawing from years of experience in the field, the manual shares practical wisdom and lessons learned from successful recruitment campaigns. It emphasises the importance of building trust and relationships within the Aboriginal community.
Contact the AbSec Carer Support Line
