Australia-wide services for grandparent, kinship and foster carers
Carer Gateway
This Australian Government website has information about services and support for carers.
- Phone: 1800 422 737
- Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 am-5 pm (7 days, 24 hours for emergency respite)
Family Relationships Online
This national telephone service provides information and advice on family relationships.
- Phone: 1800 050 321
- Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 am-8 pm; Saturday, 10 am-4 pm (local time), except national public holidays
Services Australia – Grandparent, Foster and Kinship Carer Advisers
Grandparent, Foster and Kinship Carer Advisers can give you information about payments and support services for grandparent carers, foster carers and kinship carers. They can also refer you to community service providers in your area.
- Phone: 1800 245 965
- TTY: 1800 810 586
- Hours: Monday-Friday, 8.30 am-4.30 pm
Services Australia – Multicultural Service Officers
Multicultural Service Officers can help grandparent carers and kinship carers with migrant and refugee backgrounds connect with government services.
- Phone: 131 202 (for calls about Centrelink payments and services)
- Phone: 131 450 (for calls about child support and Medicare services)
- Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 am-5 pm
Services Australia – Support for foster carers and other non-parent carers
You can use this webpage to find out about the government payments and benefits you can get when you’re a full-time grandparent carer or kinship carer.
Australian Capital Territory: services
ACT Government – Families
This government website provides information, resources and support for foster carers and kinship carers.
Marymead
This organisation supports grandparents raising grandchildren. It offers information and runs group meetings.
New South Wales: services
Central Coast Family Support Services – Grandparents raising grandchildren
This program supports Central Coast grandparents who have full-time care of and responsibility for their grandchildren. The program runs camps, picnics and seminars. It also offers one-on-one family support, professional help, referral and counselling.
MacKillop Family Services – Foster and kinship care
This organisation provides information and support to foster carers and kinship carers across New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia.
- Phone: (02) 8881 4800
- Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm
The Mirabel Foundation
The Mirabel Foundation helps children who are orphaned or have been abandoned because of parental drug use and who are now in the care of extended family. Mirabel also runs kinship carer support groups in New South Wales and Victoria.
- Phone: (02) 4023 2347
- Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm
My Forever Family NSW
My Forever Family is a government-funded organisation that provides training, information and support for foster carers and kinship carers in New South Wales. It also connects children with carers.
- Phone: 1300 782 975
- Interpreter service: 131 450
- Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm
NSW Government – Foster, relative and kinship care
This government website provides information, resources and support to foster carers, grandparent carers and kinship carers.
Samaritans – Kinship care
This service is run by the Samaritans in the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Hunter and Port Stephens areas of New South Wales. It provides support groups, training and workshops, play sessions and information for kinship carers.
- Phone: 1300 656 336
- Hours: Monday-Friday, 8.30 am-4.30 pm
Northern Territory: services
Foster and Kinship Carers Association NT
This not-for-profit agency provides information and support and advocates for the rights of foster carers and kinship carers in the Northern Territory.
- Phone: 1300 352 268
- Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 am-4 pm
NT Government Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities – Guide for kinship and foster carers
This guide helps carers create a loving and supportive environment for children coming into their homes.
Queensland: services
Grandparents Information Queensland – Time for grandparents
This website has information about support groups and other services for grandparent carers across Queensland.
- Phone: 1300 135 500
- Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm
Queensland Foster and Kinship Care (QFKC)
This organisation provides training and information to foster carers and kinship carers. The website has contact details for QFKC Support Team members, who support carers around Queensland.
Queensland Government – Foster and kinship care
This government website has information for foster carers, kinship carers and grandparent carers in Queensland. You can also call the Foster and kinship care support line for parenting tips, information and counselling.
- Phone: 1300 729 309
- Hours: 7 days, 24 hours
South Australia: services
Anglicare SA – Family support
This agency provides support and information for children and families in Southern Adelaide, including services and support for foster carers.
- Phone: (08) 8131 3456
- Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm
Connecting Foster & Kinship Carers SA
This organisation provides information and support to foster carers and kinship carers, including a peer support network that connects carers with each other through regular events.
Grandcarers SA
This community service organisation supports grandparent carers and kinship carers by providing practical and emotional support and referral services.
- Phone: (08) 8212 1937
- Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9.30 am-4 pm
SA Government – Foster Care
This government website provides information and resources on foster care, including kinship care.
Tasmania: services
Foster and Kinship Carers Association Tasmania
This organisation provides information for foster carers and kinship carers. You can get support from trained carers through its Foster care Advocacy and Support Team (FAST) support line. Phone 1800 149 994.
Tasmanian Government Department for Education, Children and Young People – Family-based care
This government webpage has information about kinship care and foster care.
Tasmanian Government Department for Education, Children and Young People – Grandparents caring for children
This government webpage provides information about support for grandparents raising school-aged children.
Victoria: services
Foster Care Association of Victoria
This organisation provides information, training and support to foster carers.
Grandparents Victoria
This is a support and advocacy network for grandparents in Victoria. It can help grandparent carers and kinship carers find local support groups.
- Phone: 0499 969 234
- Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 am-3 pm
Kinship Carers Victoria
This organisation provides information and support to kinship carers in Victoria.
- Phone: 0499 969 234
- Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 am-3 pm
MacKillop Family Services – Foster and kinship care
This organisation provides information and support to foster carers and kinship carers across New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia.
- Phone: (03) 9699 9177
- Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm
Meli – Out of home care - Kinship
This organisation runs support groups and provides advice for kinship carers and foster carers in south-west Victoria.
- Phone: 1300 557 611
- Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm
The Mirabel Foundation
The Mirabel Foundation helps children who are orphaned or have been abandoned because of parental drug use and who are now in the care of extended family. Mirabel also runs kinship carer support groups in New South Wales and Victoria.
- Phone: (03) 9527 9422
- Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm
Victorian Government Department of Families, Fairness and Housing – Children in care
This government webpage includes information, resources and support for kinship carers and foster carers.
Western Australia: services
Foster Care Association of WA
This organisation provides support and information to foster carers. It also organises social activities.
Grandcarers WA
This organisation provides information and support for grandparent carers in Western Australia.
- Phone: (08) 6270 2486
- Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 am-2.30 pm
MacKillop Family Services – Foster and kinship care
This organisation provides information and support to foster carers and kinship carers across New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia.
- Phone: (08) 6477 1000
- Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm
Wanslea – For parents and grandparent carers
This agency provides information and support to grandparent carers throughout Western Australia. Wanslea also helps eligible grandparent carers apply for an annual payment from the Department of Communities to assist them in the care of their grandchildren.
- Phone: (08) 9245 2441
- Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 am-5 pm
WA Government Department of Communities – Become a foster carer
This website provides information and resources on foster care.
WA Government Department of Communities – Support and resources for grandcarers
This webpage provides information, support and services for grandparent carers in Western Australia.
Our article on services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kinship and foster carers has information specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers.