Specialised Foster Carer | Full-time Opportunity | Toowoomba
Become a specialised foster carer
As a specialised foster carer, you'll welcome one child aged 7 to 11 into your home for approximately nine months. During this time, caring for that child will become your primary day-to-day focus as you provide the stability, care and structure they need to thrive. The child may have experienced significant challenges and needs a calm, consistent home where they can feel safe, build confidence and develop everyday life skills.
You'll never be expected to do this alone. You'll be part of a dedicated professional team, including a therapist, teacher, skills coach and program supervisor, who will work alongside you throughout the placement. Together, you'll help a child make meaningful progress that can last a lifetime.
Is this opportunity right for you?
This opportunity could be a great fit if you:
- Want to make a meaningful difference in a child's life.
- Can make caring for one child your primary day-to-day focus for around nine months.
- Have a spare bedroom and a stable home environment.
- Value being part of a professional team with ongoing guidance and support.
- Are ready to learn, grow and celebrate the small moments that lead to lasting change.
Why become a specialised foster carer?
Many people want to foster but worry they won't know what to do or won't have enough support. As a specialised foster carer, you're never on your own. You'll receive comprehensive training before a child is placed with you, daily coaching and practical guidance from experienced professionals. You'll always have someone to call, someone to problem-solve with and a team that's invested in helping both you and the child succeed.
You'll also experience the reward of watching a child grow in confidence, develop new skills and achieve milestones they may never have thought possible. The progress may come one small step at a time, but every step matters.
What you'll do
As a specialised foster carer, you will:
- Provide a safe, stable and nurturing home.
- Establish consistent daily routines that help a child feel secure (school runs, appointments etc)
- Encourage learning, confidence and positive relationships.
- Support the development of practical life skills (riding a bike, making friends etc)
- Work alongside your professional support team to implement an individualised therapeutic care plan.
- Celebrate progress and help a child experience the everyday moments that build confidence and belonging.
About you
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures, religions, ages, family structures and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. You don't need formal qualifications or previous foster care experience. We'll provide all the training and support you need. To be eligible, you'll also need:
- A spare bedroom in your home.
- No children under five years of age living in the home.
- A strong support network.
- A good sense of humour and willingness to learn.
- To live in our Toowoomba service area.
- Willingness to complete our screening, assessment and training process.
What you'll receive
This is a specialised foster care opportunity, not a traditional employment role but as a specialised foster carer, you will receive:
- A tax-free allowance of $6,250 per month while caring for a child, plus potential eligibility for Family Tax Benefit A and B.
- Comprehensive training before a child is placed with you.
- A dedicated support team, including a therapist, teacher, skills coach and supervisor.
- Daily check-ins, weekly support meetings and 24/7 on-call support.
- The confidence of knowing you're never expected to manage challenges on your own.
- The opportunity to help change the trajectory of a child's life.
About OzChild
OzChild is one of Australia's longest-serving child and family welfare organisations. We support children, young people and families through evidence-based programs that strengthen relationships, promote healing and create brighter futures.
Every day, our specialised foster carers help children experience the safety, stability and care they need to thrive. We're committed to supporting our carers just as much as the children they welcome into their homes.
Apply today
If you're ready to learn more about becoming a specialised foster carer, we'd love to hear from you. Apply through Indeed and we will send you an information video to watch so you can work out if specialised foster care is a good for you.
If you'd like to learn more before applying, visit our Specialised Foster Care page to explore how the program works, what the kids are like and find answers to common questions: https://www.ozchild.org.au/get-involved/specialised-care-qld/
Pay: $6,250.00 per month
Work Location: In person
