Out-of-home care

Information for children and young people in care and for their parents, including types of care, rights, case planning, restoration and leaving care

Browse Out-of-home care

About out-of-home care

Find out about the types of foster care that exists and how to access your records if you used to be in out-of-home care.
- Types of out-of-home care
  
  Out-of-home care can be short or long-term, find out what it is and what the different types are.
- Accessing your care records
  
  If you lived in out-of-home care as a child or young person you can request a copy of records about your care history. This page tells you how to apply for your records, what to expect when you apply, and how to access support.
Information for children and young people in OOHC

Your rights as a child and young person in care, programs and funding available to you while in care and how to plan for your future
- Your rights as a child or young person in care
  
  Find out what your rights are while you are in out-of-home care (OOHC).
- Planning for your future and support after care
  
  How you can start planning for your future, what to include on your leaving care plan and what kind of support you can receive to help you transition to independent living.
- Programs and funding for care leavers
  
  Services and support for young people who are leaving or have left care. Remember, your caseworker can still help link you in with programs and arrange support services up until you are 25.
- By YOU
  
  Stories by young people who are or have been in out-of-home care (OOHC).
Information for parents with kids in OOHC

Your rights as the parent, how to partner with your caseworker, what to do if there's a problem or dispute, and understanding the Restoration Plan so your child can return home.
- Your rights as a birth parent
  
  What your rights are as the birth parent when your child is in out-of-home care, including access to and information about your child
- Your child's rights in out-of-home care
  
  Your child has rights while they are in out-of-home care. We have created resources, such as booklets and videos, to discuss these rights with children and teens..
- Partnering with your caseworker
  
  Information about participating in case planning, cultural planning for Aboriginal children and young people, and family group conferencing.
- If you have a problem or dispute
  
  What you can do as a parent of a child in out-of-home care if you disagree with your child's caseworker or foster carer.
- Restoration: bringing your child home
  
  How to understand the Restoration Plan so you know what needs to happen for your child to return home.
- Leaving out-of-home care
  
  Information about the age a young person can leave care and the creation of a leaving care plan to prepare them before they leave out-of-home care.

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Last updated: 24 Sep 2019

Out-of-home care

Browse Out-of-home care

About out-of-home care

Information for children and young people in OOHC

Information for parents with kids in OOHC