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Caring for Australian children is everyone’s responsibility.

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The Urgent Call to Transform Foster Care

While the number of children and young people entering out-of-home care across Australia has remained steady in recent years, there has been a steep decline in the number of new and active foster carers.

The result is an increasing reliance on non-family-based (residential) care or group homes, which not only incur significant financial costs for governments but, most importantly, can result in poorer outcomes for children and young people, and their families and communities.

Change is needed to preserve this vital part of the system for both children in care and the foster carers who support them.

Group Members

-21%

The % decrease in number of children and young people with foster carers since 2017.

+84%

The % increase in number of children and young people entering residential care since 2017.

44,868

Children were in out-of-home care as at 30 June 2024.

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Australia must take action to provide kids better access to healthcare, ease the financial burden and provide fair workplace entitlements for foster carers. 

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Together, we can ensure every child in foster care is given a fair go.

Get the Facts

“The current shortage of foster carers is not the result of poor marketing or cold-hearted Australians; it’s driven by macro drivers and requires systemic change.”

- Simon Kuestenmacher 
Demographer, Director and Co-founder of The Demographics Group

The National Foster Care Sustainability Group

A National Foster Care Sustainability Group (NFCSG), led by national child and family peak body Families Australia, is driving national-level change through advocating for strategic federal actions.

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