Emergency foster carers change lives

Being an emergency foster carer can change your life too. 

Emergency foster carers provide a safe haven for children when they are at their most vulnerable.

When there are concerns for the immediate safety of children and young people, they are placed in emergency care (also known as immediate or crisis care). 

Find out how you can open your heart and home to children and young people.

Contact My Forever Family NSW now to find out how you can become an emergency foster carer.

Be there in that moment

Emergency carers:

  • provide care for children of all ages (including infants and young children) at very short notice, day or night, seven days a week
  • may provide care for sibling groups so that children are able to stay together
  • may provide care for one night, for a week, or for as long as six months
  • support children and young people to spend time with their families
  • help children and young people to continue with schooling and other regular activities
  • support children and young people to transition back to the care of their families if possible, or into an alternative care arrangement.

Emergency carer profile: Mel and Kate

Mel and Kate have cared for 10 children since they first started out as emergency carers earlier this year. Both working full time and with busy lives, they couldn’t offer permanent care, but wanted to help out when they could.

The couple have cared for kids for as little as 24 hours up to eight days. They aren’t afraid to say no when it’s not the right time or not the right fit. “Our caseworker will call us, and we’ll say, yes that’s great but their school is in the opposite direction to work, could you help us out with getting them there in the morning?” Mel said.

They’ll also ask for extra support if they need it. “We make time to attend training as it helps us to be better carers” Mel said.

Even though they’ve been helping out for less than a year, they’ve already chalked up hundreds of special moments.

“These gorgeous sisters came to us and one of them was on long term medication” Mel recalls.

“So was our cat. She really took a shine to the cat; she related to him as he was on medication like her.”

“She hadn’t done a lot of reading, but we have these books that are easy to read and are about topics the older ones might be interested in. She sat there reading to this very attentive cat all about these two girls fighting at school.”

“We just gave them some space but were secretly cheering.”

“Every child that comes, there is always something memorable about them. They have all been wonderful” Mel said.