An older lady is holding small hand weights in the garden with a child who is laughing with her. She is a respite carer supporting a small boy on the weekends.

“We support Respite Carers to provide a ‘home away from home’ for children in Foster Care”

Become a Respite Carer

As a respite carer, you’ll make a positive difference in a child’s life and help ensure their full-time foster family can recharge to provide the best care and support.

Who can be a Respite Carer?

Respite carers are everyday people from all walks of life. We welcome respite carers from various backgrounds, ages, life experiences and skills, to help provide scheduled, short-term support for children and young people with a foster care family.

The most important things we look for in respite carers is the ability to provide a safe and nurturing home, and a desire to help children and young people develop and reach their full potential.

Respite carers can be:

  • Single or have a partner

  • Have children of their own or no children

  • Be employed, not working, studying or retired

  • Come from any cultural or ethnic background

  • Be of any gender identity

  • Practice any religion or no religion

Carer requirements:

  • Must be over 21

  • Have the time, energy and willingness to commit to the needs of a child or young person

  • Be healthy

  • Be an Australian citizen or a permanent resident

  • Have a spare bedroom

  • Willing to undergo background checks

What do Respite Carers do?

Respite care plays an important role in the family network, providing a stable home, so the child or young person can have every opportunity for success.

Respite care is for short, usually pre-planned periods of time. Respite carers might care for a child one weekend a month or for a few weeks during school holidays.

Respite carers provide a ‘normal everyday life’, where the child or young person can attend school, participate in sport, hobbies, friendship groups and appointments.

Each child or young person will have things that they love to do, like going to the park, visiting the zoo, reading books, going bike riding, etc.

Two teenager girls are having a day at the beach and receiving respite care from their foster family, in their town of Newcastle NSW

What support do Respite Carers receive?

Illustration of a piggy bank with money for financial support

Financial Support

Receive a tax-free allowance to support the needs of children placed in your care. The allowance covers the day-to-day costs of looking after the child or person in your care, such as food and necessities.

24/7 Carer Support

Access to support at any time of the day or night for advice, support and direction for a range of needs and situations.

Illustration of a mobile phone held in a hand with a heart on the phone

Training

Respite Carers are provided with a range of learning opportunities suited to their level of experience and the needs of children in their care.

Illustration of a mother, father and child with their arms up in front of a globe for training and support.

Opportunity to make a difference

As a Respite carer, you’ll provide a caring, ‘home away from home’, with the chance for the foster family and the child to recharge and reconnect.

Illustration of a house with a heart and helping hands surrounding the house. nds

Contact us

Find out more about becoming a Respite Carer and provide a home away from home for local foster children.

An image of a respite carer supporting a young boy in the family home. She is holding his arm and he is laughing. They are standing in a kitchen with the mum in the background.