While Out‑of‑Home Care is often referred to simply as foster care, there are several different types of care available for children and young people – and many opportunities to become a carer in a way that fits your lifestyle.
Types of Care
This is the care of a child for a very short period from one night to one month while decisions are made about longer term care options for the child.
Respite care involves providing care for regular short stays (e.g. one weekend a month). It gives children and young people and their carers a break and provides a positive experience for the child.
It also provides an opportunity for carers to ease into a caring role.
Kinship care is a type of care where the carers are known and familiar to a child or young person, or to their parents. They may have a pre‑existing relationship with the child, or be a member of the child or young person’s extended family. Kinship carers can provide any of the types of care outlined above, with the exception of caring with a view to adoption.
Interim care is limited in time and can last anywhere from a few weeks to two years, while the court makes decisions about the best long‑term arrangement for a child or young person.
When children move on from interim care, they may return to their parents, move to live with extended family, or transition to a permanent care arrangement. This is usually done in a planned way to ensure a smooth transition. During interim or restoration care, the carer has an important role in promoting the child’s connection with their parents and extended family.
This type of care is for children who cannot live with their parents for the foreseeable future and need a care arrangement until circumstances change or they turn 18 years.
Children needing this type of care have usually experienced significant trauma and the court has intervened stating they are unable to return to the care of their parents. Carers will need to work together with Anglicare/St Saviours, the child’s family, and others in decision making about the child.
Children in long-term care maintain connections with their parents, family and kin. Carers are an important part of supporting these connections. All long term care arrangements should have a view to supporting legal permanency.
Therapeutic Home‑Based Care (THBC) is a flexible service model that provides 1:1 home‑based care for high‑needs children and young people aged 12 years and over.
THBC differs from foster care in that children and young people receive one‑on‑one support with a strong focus on therapeutic services.
The THBC carer allowance reflects the higher needs of the children and young people in this program. Because of the complexity of their needs, the carer’s primary role is to provide dedicated care to the child or young person. If carers are employed, they will need flexible work arrangements to support this role (e.g. working from home).
