Fostering Connections
Providing prospective foster carers with enhanced support, shaped by industry and driven by sector.
Last updated: 18 Nov 2024
Vision and purpose
Fostering Connections is a joint initiative of foster care agencies across metropolitan and regional Victoria, providing prospective foster carers with information and support.
Fostering Connections is a statewide foster care recruitment campaign reaching prospective foster carers across regional and metro Victoria.
With a central enquiry service, Fostering Connections supports prospective foster carers navigate the recruitment process and links carers to local agencies.
Evidence and data generation, including the statewide CMS, enables the collection, analysis, and reporting of foster care recruitment trends.
Fostering Connections acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government.
Fostering Connection's resources and support
Fostering Connections offers essential resources to guide you through every stage of becoming a foster carer, from accreditation to daily support. Alongside your foster care agency, which will be there to assist you at each step, additional resources are available to make the fostering journey easier.
History
Formed in 2016 by Victoria’s foster care agencies with support from the Victorian government, Foster Connections streamlines the process for prospective foster carers to access information and connect with the most suitable agency.
Fostering Connections is the only program of its kind in Australia, providing vital support for Victorians interested in learning about foster care and how they can contribute by becoming foster carers.
Impact
Fostering Connections continues to strengthen sector support through various initiatives.
In December 2022, the program launched the Foster Care Worker Resource Hub, providing a centralized source of up-to-date information to aid workers. Additionally, the program offered agencies a co-branding pack for the Play a Part campaign, along with tailored marketing and communications support, including reviews of carer attraction activities and strategic recommendations.
To further enhance sector capabilities, Fostering Connections also introduced an online training suite and webinars focused on improving data literacy, offering one-on-one consultations to support effective data use and entry.
The Foster Care Network
The Foster Care Network unites representatives from the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, the Foster Care Association of Victoria, and foster care organizations to stay informed on sector changes, share best practices, and discuss service provisions. It provides updates on Fostering Connections, offers opportunities to network, and includes presentations on relevant topics, amplifying the voices of carers through peak body representation.
