Specialised Foster Carer

• Make a difference in the life of a vulnerable child or young person aged 7-17
• Providing care in your own home for around six to nine months
• Tax-free reimbursement of $75,000 per annum

MORE THAN JUST FOSTER CARE

If you have always wanted to become a foster carer and have a passion for improving the lives of children and young people, we want to hear from you.

For more than 170 years OzChild has been dedicated to supporting children, young people and families who are experiencing significant challenges. The largest provider of evidence-based programs in Australia, OzChild supports more than 10,000 children, young people and family members each year.

We are currently seeking individuals or couples to become treatment foster carers in our internationally proven program, Treatment Foster Care Oregon (TFCO). This program is achieving life-changing outcomes for young people, with graduates successfully maintaining improvement in their behaviours and engagement in education. Across OzChild’s five TFCO teams nationally, 42 children and young people have successfully graduated from the program, reunified with family, or been placed into long-term care.

OVERVIEW

• Be part of a transformative short-term treatment foster care team
• Care for a child or young person in your home aged 7-17 for around six to nine months
• A generous tax-free reimbursement of $75,000 per annum pro rata (only paid whilst you are caring for a child or young person) reflecting the complexity of the child or young person you will be caring for and all living and entertainment expenses for the child or young person come out of this reimbursement
• Provide positive reinforcement for the child or young person in a home environment
• Receive comprehensive training and guidance for this highly structured treatment program
• 24/7 on-call support, including daily phone calls and weekly carer support meetings
• On completion of the program, the child or young person will be reunited with their families or identified long-term foster carers
• Approval process takes between 3-5 months and includes thorough screening processes and assessment interviews

WE ARE LOOKING FOR INDIVIDUALS / COUPLES WHO

• Have experience in dealing with children / young people with complex behavioural and emotional difficulties (preferable but not essential)
• Have a suitable living space, including a spare bedroom
• Are willing to follow an exact program of care, be closely supervised and guided by the OzChild team
• Have a good support network
• Are not working in any other capacity (casual work, running your own business etc.) as you must be available full-time to care for a young person in the program. If you are applying as a couple, at least one person must not be working
• Are willing to learn new parenting skills
• Live up to one hour from our Campbelltown or Blacktown offices
• No children under five years old living in the home