What do you need right now?
Quick links
You're not alone: support from the start
When a child or young person first comes into your care
Explore: The first days in your care
Download: The Caring for kids guide (PDF 19.3MB)
Financial assistance
Explore:Financial support for carers - including DCJ carer allowance rates
Understanding plans and reviews
The support you receive, and the care provided to the child or young person, are guided by formal plans and regular reviews. These help make sure their needs are met and that you’re supported in your caring role.
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To learn about your own review and authorisation as a carer:
Getting the support you need
Your caseworker is your main point of support. They work with you to understand the child or young person’s needs, help you access services, and support decisions that are in the child’s best interests.
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Caring for More Than Just Needs
Caring for a child or young person is about more than providing food, clothing and a place to sleep. It’s about creating a home where they feel safe, valued and respected — and where their identity, culture and connections are recognised and celebrated.
You are not doing this alone. You’ll work alongside families, caseworkers and community members to support the child or young person’s wellbeing. Every conversation, routine and shared moment helps build trust and a sense of belonging.
Keeping families connected
Children and young people often have strong ties to their families and culture.
Supporting these connections is important for their sense of identity and belonging.
We’ll help you with practical arrangements – like getting to family visits or cultural activities – and provide guidance on how to make these experiences positive and meaningful.
Family time and siblings
Learn why family and sibling connections matter, what family time can look like, and how you can support safe, meaningful contact that helps children feel secure, connected and supported.
Caring for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people
Learn how to support an Aboriginal child’s cultural identity, community connections and sense of pride.
Caring for children and young people from culturally diverse backgrounds
Learn how to support a child’s culture, language and faith to strengthen their sense of belonging, safety and wellbeing.
Caring for children with specific needs
Caring for children and young people with disability
Every child is different. Learning about a child’s individual needs helps you support their independence, social connections and education.
Children with disability may need additional support with communication, learning, behaviour or daily routines. Support is available to help you understand what works best for the child in your care.
Find information about the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), assessments, therapy and behaviour support.
Supporting health, learning and life beyond care
Health, safety and wellbeing
This section brings together practical information to help you support the health, safety, and wellbeing of children and young people in your care. You’ll find guidance on daily habits, keeping kids safe at home and outdoors, navigating health services like Medicare and dental care, understanding the OOHC Health Pathway, and accessing local OOHC services. It also covers supporting positive behaviour, managing strong emotions, and helping children feel safe, confident, and well.
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Supporting Children Facing Bullying and Racism
Children and young people in out-of-home care may feel vulnerable or different because of past experiences. How you respond to bullying or racism can help them feel safe, supported, and valued. This section offers guidance on recognising bullying, responding to incidents, understanding racial discrimination, and supporting children both at home and in the community.
Explore: Bullying and racism
Supporting Learning Every Step of the Way
Caring for a child or young person in out-of-home care means helping them learn, grow, and feel safe—at home, at school, and in the community. This section gives practical guidance on early learning, school transitions, personalised learning and support plans and the OOHC Education Pathway. It also covers helping children who are struggling to attend or stay in school, navigating school events and celebrations, and understanding school fees and contributions.
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Preparing a young person to leave care
Young people preparing to leave care need support with independence, identity, education, housing and relationships. This section provides information on leaving-care planning and aftercare support to help build resilience and support young people to navigate the transition to adulthood with confidence.
Explore: Leaving and after care
Your rights, your voice, your wellbeing
How can I speak up or raise a concern?
Find the tools and information to help you advocate for yourself and the child in your care. If you need to raise a concern, you can do so safely and in a way that feels right for you. You may choose to remain anonymous, decide how much personal information to share, or request culturally respectful support.
Explore: Resolving concerns & understanding your rights about complaints.
Legal rights and responsibilities
Understand what is expected of carers, how legal responsibilities guide everyday decisions, and how these sit alongside the relationships that matter most in a child or young person’s life. In this section we outline the safeguards in place to protect children’s privacy, safety and wellbeing, while recognising the vital role carers play in providing safe, stable and nurturing care.
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Download a copy of the: NSW carers code of conduct
Looking after yourself as a carer
Carers give so much of themselves to support others, and it’s easy to put your own needs last. Over time, this can lead to emotional, mental and physical exhaustion — often called burnout.
Looking after your own health and wellbeing, especially during stressful times, is an important part of caring. Practising self-care can help prevent burnout or reduce its impact, so you can continue caring in a way that’s healthy and sustainable for you.
Explore: Looking after yourself as a carer
Your voice matters -have your say as a carer
Your experience can help improve support and drive real change.
Carer Advisory Groups (CAGs) bring carers together with out-of-home care staff to share experiences, raise issues and help shape better practice across NSW. CAGs are hosted by Carers for Kids NSW. For more information CAGs
Carers can also share their views through DCJ carer surveys, run every two years. What carers say helps improve support, address system issues, strengthen recruitment and retention, and inform ongoing discussions with the Minister.
See past survey results:
Foster and Kin Connect newsletter
A newsletter for all registered and future foster, kinship and relative carers across NSW.
Learn from the experience of other carers and childcare experts, stay informed on any updates in the out-of-home care sector, and hear about the latest training and supports available to carers.
Related resources
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