Foster Care

Kinship care

Kinship care refers to situations where children are cared for by people known to them. They may be family, family friends or community members such as teachers, police and other members of the community that have an existing relationship with the child or young person.

Emergency care

Emergency care refers to the care provided to children and young people when they are first brought into care. The child will often go to an emergency carer while family options or more long-term options are explored. This can be a matter of days, or it could be up to six months.

Restoration care

Children may come into temporary care due to parental illness, crisis or family breakdown. The goal is often to restore these children to their families over a period of time.

Long-term care

Some children are placed in permanent care by the court, usually until the child reaches the age of 18. These children and young people require stable long-term placements to help them reach their full potential.

High needs care

Some children or young people who come into care require a high level of support due to a range of issues. These children require dedicated carers who have no young children of their own.

Respite care

Caring for children can be challenging – respite care allows full-time carers to have a break. Providing respite care is a good way to experience fostering if you are not ready for a full-time commitment.

Therapeutic Home Based Care (THBC)

Therapeutic Home Based Care (THBC) is a specialised type of foster care designed for children and young people, typically aged 12 to 17, who need a safe and stable home environment with intensive support. Unlike traditional foster care, THBC focuses on providing one-on-one therapeutic care, allowing young people to receive the dedicated attention they need to address complex emotional and behavioural challenges.

Carers in the THBC program play a crucial role in the child’s life, offering 24/7 care either in their own home or a home provided by Pathfinders. Carers receive extensive support, including ongoing training, access to therapeutic practitioners, and respite opportunities. The program also provides a generous allowance to reflect the demanding nature of the care required.

To be a THBC carer, one typically needs relevant qualifications or experience in fields such as psychology, community services, youth work, childcare or education. The focus is on providing long-term, continuous care with regular evaluations to ensure the young person’s needs are being met.

This type of care is not time-limited, meaning it continues as long as necessary to ensure the young person can achieve stability and success in a supportive home environment.