Blogs & Stories

Megan and Chris: Young foster carers supporting children in the Ballarat area

8th September, 2024

Ballarat couple Megan and Chris have been fostering for the last five years after first becoming foster carers in their twenties.

Lize and Sean’s story: The rewards and benefits of fostering for their own children

6th September, 2024

Foster care families come in all different shapes and sizes, and many foster carers are raising their own children in the home. Lize and Sean share their fostering story and how they involve their own children in their journey fostering.

AFLW Carlton Coach Mathew Buck, on being a foster carer and the power of sport in the community

6th September, 2024

The involvement of community figures like Mathew Buck, head coach of the Carlton AFL Women’s team shows the positive impact foster carers can have.

Gippsland foster carers Rose and David are empty nesters making a difference

5th September, 2024

Rose and David first became foster carers in 2017 and have since fostered over 30 children through respite, emergency, and short-term care. The couple had considered fostering before, but it was after their children had grown and moved out of home that they made the choice to open up their home to children in their community.

Upper Murray foster carer Meaghan Lewin wins the 2024 Victorian Protecting Children Award for supporting a young person through their cancer diagnosis

4th September, 2024

Congratulations to Upper Murray foster carer Meaghan Lewin for winning the Foster Carer Award at the 2024 Victorian Protecting Children Awards.

Belinda and Callum's fostering story

16th May, 2024

Foster carer Belinda shares her and her husband's story of raising twelve biological and foster children on their 5-acre property outside of Melbourne.

Leonie Patterson, foster carer of nearly 40 years, wins the 2023 Victorian Protecting Children Carer Award

11th September, 2023

OzChild foster carer Leonie Patterson took out the Carer Award on Tuesday 5th of September for her contribution to fostering children for almost 40 years.

Vince and Kym's story: Fostering children for more than 20 years

7th September, 2023

"I don’t want to pretend to be dad, I am a foster dad but they have a biological dad or mum and I don’t want to take that away from them. I tell the children in my care to call me Vince or call be grandpa because I am old enough."

Jade & Bob's fostering story

5th September, 2023

Jade and Bob have been foster carers since 2016. They share their story fostering children in Melbourne's South-east.

From growing up in care to becoming a foster carer: Abby’s story

5th September, 2023

From the age of five up to her teenage years, Abby spent time growing up in foster care. Because of this experience, she knew she wanted to play a part in supporting young people just like her.

Minna and Zubin's fostering story

21st March, 2023

Minna and Zubin are new foster carers having been accredited in early 2022. They share their fostering experience and the wonderful impact it has had on their own biological son.

Julie’s story: From growing up in a foster care household to becoming a foster care worker

15th November, 2022

Julie was 15 years old when her parents became foster carers providing care to more than 100 children and young people in the Warrnambool area.

Foster carer among nominees for Victoria Young Australian of the Year 2023

26th October, 2022

Among the nominees for Victoria’s Young Australian of the Year is Molly Fergus, a foster carer of six years based in Frankston.

Jenna Davey-Burns, Deputy Mayor of the City of Kingston and proud foster carer

11th September, 2022

Jenna Davey-Burns is a busy person. She’s the Deputy Mayor of the City of Kingston, a community volunteer, and she’s also been a foster carer for the last seven years.

Rachael and Tindi's fostering story

11th September, 2022

Rachael and Tindi live on 13 acres of bushland in Central Victoria and have been foster carers since 2019.

Adam and Shaun's fostering story

11th September, 2022

All kinds of kids need all kinds of foster carers. Adam and Shaun share their story of fostering children of all ages in Melbourne.

Jackson's story fostering children with complex needs

11th September, 2022

Jackson shares his story as a young single carer fostering children with complex needs in North Central Victoria.

Carer Award winners announced at the 2022 Victorian Protecting Children Awards

8th September, 2022

Fostering Connections would like to congratulate foster carers Toni and Paul Gauntlet from MacKillop Family Services for winning the 2022 Carer Award.

Foster carer earns Victoria’s 2022 Father of the Year Award

5th September, 2022

Michael, along with his wife Fiona, has fostered more than 70 children over the past 15 years. In September 2022, he was named the YMCA’s Victorian Father of the Year.

Hannah's experience fostering teenagers

16th August, 2022

As a high school teacher, Hannah knew she could play an important role as a foster carer for teenagers.

Jonathan and Fanny's fostering story

24th March, 2022

Jonathan and Fanny share their fostering story and the power of community. This story has also been translated into Indonesian.

Gulhan and Yuksel's fostering story

22nd March, 2022

Foster carers Gulhan and Yuksel share their fostering story and how they have shared their culture with the young people in their care.

Foster care, family reunification, and saying goodbye

21st February, 2022

Foster carers play an important role in our community by providing safe and supportive homes for children who cannot live their family. They also play an important role in supporting a child in their care to transition back to living with their family.

5 things to know about becoming a foster carer in Victoria

3rd February, 2022

Thinking about becoming a foster carer but not sure where to start or what you need to know? Learn more about becoming a foster carer.

Fostering children with a disability

3rd December, 2021

Children who have a disability have the same rights as other children and this includes to live in a safe and supportive environment. Foster carers play an important role in supporting children with a disability to thrive, alongside the child’s care team.

Meryl's story fostering children with a disability for 16 years

3rd December, 2021

Meryl and her husband Philip always knew they wanted to foster children when their own children were older, but it was her experiences of disability within her own family that saw Meryl put her hand up to foster children with disabilities too.

Dianne and Alister’s story fostering children with a disability

3rd December, 2021

Dianne and Alister hadn’t initially planned on becoming foster carers, but when they knew of children in need of placement, they put their hand up and haven’t looked back.

Sarah and Matt’s story fostering young people with a disability

1st December, 2021

Two and half years ago Mildura couple Sarah and Matt put their hands up to become foster carers and haven’t looked back.

Emily and Jake's fostering story

27th October, 2021

Despite both working full-time, Emily and Jake have made fostering work. Learn more about Emily and Jake’s fostering story.

Supporting young people leaving foster care to participate in vocational and higher education

6th October, 2021

Foster carers can play an important role in supporting young people to thrive and become independent. Learn how you can support young people to participate in higher education.

Mojdeh and Reza's story as new foster carers

12th September, 2021

Mojdeh and Reza share their experience becoming new foster carers and the advice they have for people from different cultures who are considering becoming foster carers.

Lisa's fostering story as a single carer

12th September, 2021

Being single, working full-time or not having parenting experience is no barrier to becoming a foster carer. Lisa shares her fostering story as a single carer and how it's been the most rewarding experience she's ever had.

Dale's fostering story

12th September, 2021

Life throws its challenges at you, and that was certainly the case for foster carer Dale. Dale shares his fostering story and how fostering and his community helped him through a very difficult time.

Andrea’s story fostering children with complex needs

12th September, 2021

Just like all children, children who come into foster care have their own individual needs, including children with complex needs. We spoke with Andrea about her fostering story and advice for people thinking about caring for children with complex needs.

Rocky's fostering story

12th September, 2021

When children and young people in care experience a positive connection to their culture, community, and identity, they then have greater opportunities to thrive during their care experience and in their future. Rocky shares he and his wife’s story fostering children from different cultural backgrounds.

Anna and Emily's story fostering in their 20s

12th September, 2021

When it comes to fostering, what matters most is that you can create a safe and supportive home for a child and young person. Anna and Emily share their story of becoming foster carers in their early 20s.

Marcelle's foster care story

11th August, 2021

Marcelle shares her experience going on to higher education and how her foster carers supported her to reach her goals.

Jess' foster care story

30th June, 2021

Jess shares her story of spending time in foster care, what it meant to her to be able to remain together with her siblings while they were in care.

Jamie and Sam’s journey as a same-sex foster couple

16th June, 2021

All kinds of kids need all kinds of foster carers. Foster carer Jamie* shares he and his partner Sam’s experience fostering children as a same-sex couple in Victoria.

Supporting LGBTIQA+ children in foster care

3rd June, 2021

All children have the right to live in a safe and nurturing environment, with the freedom to express themselves. Learn different ways that you can support LGBTIQA+ children and young people in foster care.

Glenda's story of fostering for over 27 years

13th May, 2021

Glenda shares her story of fostering children and young people in her community for over 27 years and how it's strengthened her own family.

Supporting children in foster care who have experienced trauma

6th April, 2021

Children and young people in out-of-home care are likely to have faced challenges, however they are also just like other children; it is critical that people approach fostering with an open heart and a willingness to try to understand their needs.

How my culture was supported during foster care

25th March, 2021

This Cultural Diversity Week, Youth Support Facilitator Reggie shares their experience of how foster care supported their connection to culture.

Creating a culturally safe environment for children in foster care

15th March, 2021

Children in care who are supported to maintain a connection to their culture, religion and language are able to develop their sense of belonging and identity and as a result have better outcomes as they grow up.

What role do foster care agencies play?

22nd February, 2021

In Victoria, there are 24 foster care agencies that support foster carers from the beginning to the end of their foster care placement.

What is the difference between foster care and adoption?

14th January, 2021

Sometimes people are unsure about the differences between foster care, adoption and other types of care. So what is the difference?

What makes a great foster carer and what you need to know

17th September, 2020

Foster carers have done an incredible job caring for children and young people in Victoria. Fostering Connections is highlighting the wonderful work carers do to create stable and safe environments for children and young people in care.

Caring through COVID-19 and Foster Care Week

15th September, 2020

Fostering Connections spoke with agencies across Victoria to hear from staff who work directly with children, young people, and foster carers about the positive contributions carers have made.

Creativity and commitment during COVID-19: regional agencies rise to the challenge

27th July, 2020

Between bushfires and COVID-19, 2020 has seen no shortage of stress. But despite the many challenges, we have seen positive and proactive initiatives across the community and in particularly across the foster care sector.

Forget partying, meet the 20-somethings opening their homes to fostering

28th January, 2020

On any day of the week about 8000 children need care across Victoria. These millennials, who have fostered dozens of children between them, are putting a roof over the heads of Victoria’s most vulnerable children.

Geelong foster agencies searching for more families to host vulnerable children

28th January, 2020

Geelong foster agencies are desperately searching for families who can welcome vulnerable children into their homes.

Sesame Street introduces foster care muppet

13th November, 2019

Sesame Street has introduced a new character named Karli -- a young Muppet in foster care, and her “for-now” parents, Dalia and Clem.

400 new foster care households needed to support children in Victoria

11th September, 2019

Berry Street foster carer Leonie knows firsthand the positive impact a new foster home can make in the life of a child or young person needing care and she's helping our call for 400 new foster homes over the next year.

Interview - Manal Shehab

9th July, 2019

Manal Shehab is a Muslim Australian community leader, counsellor and advocate working across Melbourne and Regional Victoria. She sat down with Fostering Connections to talk about foster care, and why we need more carers in the Islamic community today.

Single people can make a difference

2nd June, 2016

Deciding to become a foster carer can seem daunting. But it doesn’t have to be. There are many different ways to foster children.

Change a life, foster a child

2nd January, 2016

There is a need for all sorts of foster carers from all different types of backgrounds.

Find out what’s happening in foster care around Victoria.

Megan and Chris: Young foster carers supporting children in the Ballarat area

Lize and Sean’s story: The rewards and benefits of fostering for their own children

AFLW Carlton Coach Mathew Buck, on being a foster carer and the power of sport in the community

Gippsland foster carers Rose and David are empty nesters making a difference

Upper Murray foster carer Meaghan Lewin wins the 2024 Victorian Protecting Children Award for supporting a young person through their cancer diagnosis

Belinda and Callum's fostering story

Leonie Patterson, foster carer of nearly 40 years, wins the 2023 Victorian Protecting Children Carer Award

Vince and Kym's story: Fostering children for more than 20 years

Jade & Bob's fostering story

From growing up in care to becoming a foster carer: Abby’s story

Minna and Zubin's fostering story

Julie’s story: From growing up in a foster care household to becoming a foster care worker

Foster carer among nominees for Victoria Young Australian of the Year 2023

Jenna Davey-Burns, Deputy Mayor of the City of Kingston and proud foster carer

Rachael and Tindi's fostering story

Adam and Shaun's fostering story

Jackson's story fostering children with complex needs

Carer Award winners announced at the 2022 Victorian Protecting Children Awards

Foster carer earns Victoria’s 2022 Father of the Year Award

Hannah's experience fostering teenagers

Jonathan and Fanny's fostering story

Gulhan and Yuksel's fostering story

Foster care, family reunification, and saying goodbye

5 things to know about becoming a foster carer in Victoria

Fostering children with a disability

Meryl's story fostering children with a disability for 16 years

Dianne and Alister’s story fostering children with a disability

Sarah and Matt’s story fostering young people with a disability

Emily and Jake's fostering story

Supporting young people leaving foster care to participate in vocational and higher education

Mojdeh and Reza's story as new foster carers

Lisa's fostering story as a single carer

Dale's fostering story

Andrea’s story fostering children with complex needs

Rocky's fostering story

Anna and Emily's story fostering in their 20s

Marcelle's foster care story

Jess' foster care story

Jamie and Sam’s journey as a same-sex foster couple

Supporting LGBTIQA+ children in foster care

Glenda's story of fostering for over 27 years

Supporting children in foster care who have experienced trauma

How my culture was supported during foster care

Creating a culturally safe environment for children in foster care

What role do foster care agencies play?

What is the difference between foster care and adoption?

What makes a great foster carer and what you need to know

Caring through COVID-19 and Foster Care Week

Creativity and commitment during COVID-19: regional agencies rise to the challenge

Forget partying, meet the 20-somethings opening their homes to fostering

Geelong foster agencies searching for more families to host vulnerable children

Sesame Street introduces foster care muppet

400 new foster care households needed to support children in Victoria

Interview - Manal Shehab

Single people can make a difference

Change a life, foster a child

Interested in how foster care might work for you?