Level 7, 108 North Terrace
Adelaide SA 5000
General enquiries: 8124 4185
Customer information: 8226 6735
Customer service helpline: 8226 6930 or 1800 003 305
Foster carers helpline: 1300 134 043
Email: customer.families@dfc.sa.gov.au
This email address should not be used to report child abuse and neglect. To report child abuse and neglect, ring the Child Abuse Report Line on 131 478. This is a 24 hour service. For more information see Protecting children.

Home » Families and young people » Foster caring

The Department for Families and Communities (DFC) is now the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (DCSI). The department is currently reviewing its online information and updates will be implemented soon.
You can still find departmental information using the search function on this site. For more information about South Australian government services please visit www.sa.gov.au.

Foster, relative and kinship caring

Last Updated Mar 2011

Sometimes children or young people are unable to live at home. Foster care provides a temporary caring home for a child or young person while their parents/caregivers and family members receive support to help them work out difficulties. Where possible, children and young people are reunited with their parents as quickly as possible.

If you would like to become a foster carer, see Becoming a foster carer for more information.

If you are a child in foster care, see Children in care.

If you have a child in foster care, see Parents whose children are in care.

When a child cannot stay with their birth family, options for their care are explored within their family and community. If this type of care cannot be arranged, foster care is arranged and supported by Families SA and other foster care agencies or Alternative Care Service Providers.

Families SA will always try to place children and young people with culturally appropriate carers. There is a need for Aboriginal carers as well as people from different cultural backgrounds.

Terminology
As well as the term “foster care” you will also see the terms “alternative care” and “Relative and Kinship care used.

Alternative care is a broad term that includes non-family based care. Sometimes when a placement in a family environment cannot be found for a child or young person, the child or young person is placed in a residential care facility. The term “alternative care” includes this type of care situation as well as family based care. Find out more about Types of alternative care.

“Relative and kinship carers” are a special type of carer for children and young people who cannot live with their birth parents. Their situation is different in that they are related to the child or are a significant member of the child’s community, and they are called upon to step in to assist when the child cannot return to their birth family. They receive the same supports as foster carers but also face some unique issues.

The terms “foster care” and “foster carer” are sometimes used to include relative and kinship carers. Wherever possible we have endeavoured to use both terms where information is pertinent to both groups.