National Foster Care Sustainability Project
Over the past five years, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) is showing a steadying of the numbers of children and young people (CYP) entering out-of-home care (OOHC).  But what has changed significantly is where children are being placed within the system.
The consequences of a decline in the recruitment of new foster carers and an increase in existing foster carers leaving, is seeing a growing reliance in all jurisdictions on non-family-based (residential) care arrangements, and especially concerning First Nations children with the increasing over-representation.
Aligned with Families Australia’s vision, that Australian families, in all their diversity, enjoy the greatest possible wellbeing, we are committed to exploring and harnessing national Commonwealth opportunities aimed at sustaining and enhancing the pivotal role of foster carers within the OOHC system.
To expedite action, a National Foster Care Sustainability Group has been established by Families Australia.
The aim of this select group is for open collaboration, resource and report sharing, expertise exchange, and to collectively advocate for the strategic federal levers necessary to unlock substantial gains for the state and territory foster care systems.
Click to access The National Foster Care Sustainability Group’s dedicated website.
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