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.