Foster Care
Foster Care provides full and part-time care for children and adults with disability through family based placements. There are different types of arrangements, from looking after someone just on weekends to supporting them until they are ready to be independent.
People who require placement come from a variety of backgrounds with different levels of disability; physical, intellectual, behavioural, sensory and emotional.
Yooralla is committed to the safety, protection and care of children and adults with disability. We strive to provide high quality support services where the individual’s rights and wellbeing are paramount. Our carers are carefully screened and assessed before becoming accredited and matched to a person with disability.
We provide
We offer a number of different care arrangements:
| Full Time Care | Where the person lives with a carer on a daily basis. They may also spend some time, e.g. one or two weekends a month, with their birth family or in respite care. |
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| Respite Care | Provides carers with a planned break. The child or adult may spend time with their birth family or stay with another carer for a night, weekend or an extended break. |
| Shared Care | Where the person stays with a carer on a part-time basis. This may be flexible depending on everyone’s needs. Shared care arrangements are negotiated between the birth family, the carer and our staff. |
Families seeking alternative care arrangements for their child or young adult are referred to us by the Department of Human Services (DHS). They must also be registered on the DHS Disability Support Register.
Can I become a carer?
Carers can be singles or couples, with or without children, working or retired, and come from a range of cultural backgrounds and life experiences.
You will need to:
- Have a commitment to developing a caring relationship with the person with disability
- Be willing to work as part of a team with the birth family and key support networks such as schools, medical and therapy specialists, and our staff
- Be prepared to maintain the child or young person's links with their birth family and include them in your own family and life planning
- Understand that the person you care for wishes to make their own choices and be included in the broader community
Support for carers
- A case manager is assigned to support you in your caring role and to monitor and support the development of the child
- A 24 hour on-call telephone support is available
- Ongoing training is provided and social support is provided through regular social days and events
- Carer payments are provided as recognition of the additional costs incurred with caring for a young person in your home
Contact us
To find out more about Foster Care, please contact us at:
Suite 1, 587 Canterbury Road
Surrey Hills, Victoria 3127
Tel: (03) 9831 5600
