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South Australian Government logo. Link to Government Ministers' web site. Department for Communities and Social Inclusion logo. Link to department web site.

Click here to find out more on becoming a foster carer

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Alternative Care Support Payments

Legislation Governing Families SA

Rapid Response

National Framework

Information Sharing Guidelines

(Promoting the Safety and Wellbeing of Children, Young People and their Families)

Foster Care Services

Last Updated Aug 2011

Phone: 1300 2 FOSTER
(or 1300 2367 837)

Request the foster caring information pack

Contacts

Families SA

Last Updated May 2011

Level 7, 108 North Terrace
Adelaide SA 5000
General enquiries: 8124 4185
Customer information: 8226 6735
Customer service helpline: 8226 6930 or 1800 003 305
Foster carers helpline: 1300 134 043
Email: customer.families@dfc.sa.gov.au
This email address should not be used to report child abuse and neglect.  To report child abuse and neglect, ring the Child Abuse Report Line on 131 478.  This is a 24 hour service.  For more information see Protecting children.

Home » Families and young people » Foster caring
The Department for Families and Communities (DFC) is now the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (DCSI). Families SA, including the child protection and family support functions, is now part of the new Department for Education and Child Development. Youth Justice remains with DCSI and the Department now includes  Multicultural SA, Northern Connections, Office for the Southern Suburbs, Office for Volunteers, Office for Women, Office for Youth and Social Inclusion. Contact details for these offices are available on the Contacts page.

The department is currently reviewing its online information and updates are in progress. Departmental information can still be found using the search function on this site. For more information about South Australian government services please visit www.sa.gov.au.

 

Foster, relative and kinship carer support

Last Updated Mar 2011

As a foster, relative or kinship carer you are issued with an identification card to show that you are a registered carer. See Foster, relative and kinship carers card for more information.

For more resources that will support you in your role see the section Resources for foster, relative and kinship carers.   

As a registered foster carer, you work closely with a non-government agency that provides alternative care services for children or young people.  Different agencies supervise carers in different geographical areas and some focus upon specialised needs such as children with disabilities.


Along with our partners in alternative care, we will support you in a variety of ways including:

  • Provision of agency-specific orientation training about your caring role
  • Engaging you in preliminary discussions about the special needs of children or young people
  • Provision of ongoing training and support on issues such as child development, discipline, managing difficult behaviours etc
  • Regular and periodic contact with you to review the progress and well-being of the child or young person in your care.
  • Contact your Placement Support Worker in the first instance, or the manager if you have a problem.

Our Foster Care Liaison Officer is an ongoing role in our Customer Relations Unit. The focus of this position is to promote positive relationships between our family-based carers, Families SA and non-government service providers.  Phone: 1300 134 043.

Other alternative care agencies

Connecting Foster Carers - SA Inc (CFC-SA)
They are the peak body for foster carers in South Australia. It is made up of carers and run by carers. They provide a peer support and independent information service to carers across the state.

Australian Foster Care Association (AFCA)
They are a national association for relative, kinship and foster carers.