Centacare provides Specialist Family Preservation Foster Care for children aged 0-12 years of age who have a reunification plan with their birth family. Children within the program are generally on short term Guardianship Orders with placement lengths ranging between 6-18 months. Foster carers are in a position to contribute and make a difference to a child’s life. Supporting the process of reunification and reuniting a child with their birth family can be an extremely rewarding experience.


Short Term Care from Centacare on Vimeo.

Respite Care

foster care respiteRespite Care involves having a child in your care for short stays, such as a regular weekend, school holidays, or one off overnight stays. Respite carers are critical to the whole foster care system because they provide necessary support to full time placements. All caregivers need regular breaks and respite care provides a chance for foster carers to recharge their energy, respond to other family needs and maintain their general wellbeing; but it also importantly gives children new experiences and allows them to establish other significant relationships. Respite care suits people who enjoy children and would like to provide care to children in need but who are not in the position to provide full time care. Respite carers may or may not have their own children, can work part-time or full time, can be single or have a partner, or can be retired or considering retirement. Please take a look at the Respite Care pamphlet for more information.

Do you have the desire to make a positive difference in a child’s life?

We want to make the foster care process straightforward…

  • Are you over 25?
  • Do you have a good understanding of the needs of children?
  • Do you have a spare bedroom in your home?

If you answered YES to all of the questions above we’d like to hear from you.
You could qualify to join our dedicated team of foster carers.

Contact Centacare’s Foster Care Support Team for more information or to book a place at one of our Information Sessions

Telephone us on: 08 8159 1400

Or you can send an email to: fostercareenquiries@centacare.org.au