Types of foster Care
Foster Care
Telephone: 1800 182 178
Email: fostering@cpfs.wa.gov.au
- The Department for Child Protection and Family Support (the Department) provides temporary and permanent care for children from birth to 18 years.
- The Department recruits, assesses, trains and supports foster carers across the state.
- There is a need for carers who can provide permanent care for children who are not able to return to live with their parents or live with other family members.
- Providing permanent care may lead to a Special Guardianship Order or a Carer Adoption.
Short-break Support
Telephone: 1800 182 178
Email: fostering@cpfs.wa.gov.au
- Short-break Support Carers look after children for short periods of time to give their full time carers a break.
- They look after children in their own home for a few hours, a weekend or a few weeks.
- They undertake the same training, assessment and approval process as foster carers.
- Short-break Support care fact sheet.
Pre-Adoptive Foster Care
Telephone: 1800 182 178
Email: fostering@cpfs.wa.gov.au
- Mainly for newborn babies while the birth parents are considering permanent care options.
- The period of care ranges from a few days up to a year.
- You need to have had experience caring for a newborn baby, and the main caregiver cannot be in paid employment.
Non Government Agencies
If you would like to foster through a non-government agency, please make direct contact with the agency. You can still attend an information session held by the Department and will still be required to go through a similar assessment process.
Uniting Care West
Phone: 1300 663 298 (free call)
Email: admin@unitingcarewest.org.au
Web: www.unitingcarewest.org.au
Provides a range of services for children and young people, including those with disabilities.
Key Assets (state-wide)
Phone: (08) 9207 5900
Email: info@keyassetswa.com.au
Web: www.keyassets.com.au
Wide range of services, including emergency, respite and medium-long term care, for people aged 0 to 17 years.
Life Without Barriers (state-wide)
Phone: (08) 9208 3400
Email: info@lwb.org.au
Web: www.lwb.org.au
Wide range of services for children aged 0 to 17, including placements for children with disabilities and in crisis.
Mercy Family & Community Services
Phone: (08) 9442 3444
Email: fosteringservices@mercycare.com.au
Web: www.mercycare.com.au
Wide range of services, including respite and medium-long term care, for people aged 0 to 17 years.
Parkerville Children & Youth Care
Phone: (08) 9290 1200
Email: admin@parkerville.org.au
Web: www.parkerville.org.au
Medium to long-term care for children aged 0 to 17.
Wanslea Family Services
Phone: (08) 9245 2441
Email: support@wanslea.asn.au
Web: www.wanslea.asn.au
Wide range of services, including emergency, respite and medium-long term care, for young people aged 0 to 17 years. Also provides an intensive program for children requiring specialised care.
Yorganop Association Inc
Phone: (08) 9321 9090
Email: admin@yorganop.org.au
Web: www.yorganop.org.au
An Aboriginal agency providing a wide range of services, including emergency, respite and medium-long term care for Aboriginal children aged 0 to 17 years.
Foundations Care
Phone: (08) 6220 1300
Email: adminwa@foundcare.org.au
Web: www.foundcarekids.org.au
Provides safe, out-of-home placements for children and young people.
MacKillop Family Services
Phone: (08) 6477 1000
Email: wa@mackillop.org.au
Web: www.mackillop.org.au
Wide range of services, including emergency, respite and medium-long term care, for people aged 0 to 17 years.
Lifestyle Solutions
Phone: (08) 6254 5800
Email: perth@lifestylesolutions.org.au
Web: www.lifestylesolutions.org.au
Wide range of services for children aged 0 to 17, including specialised care.
Accordwest
Phone: 1800 115 799 (Free call)
Email: info@accordwest.com.au
Web: www.accordwest.com.au
Wide range of services for children aged 0 to 17, including specialised care.
Foster Care Association of WA
Phone: (08) 9242 4222 or 1800 641 911 (free call)
Email: admin@fcawa.com.au
Web: www.fcawa.com.au
Represents and supports foster carers.