Can I foster?

Become a professional foster carer in Queensland

Supporting children and young people with complex needs through stable, specialist home-based care.

What is professional foster care?

Professional Foster Care is a specialised form of foster care designed for children and young people with disabilities or complex support needs who require higher levels of consistent care and stability within a home environment.

Professional foster carers provide 24/7 caring support to children and work closely with support services, Child Safety and other professionals to help children and young people feel safe, supported and connected.

This Queensland pilot introduces an additional family-based care option that sits alongside existing foster and kinship care models.

Who may suit this role?

We are looking for people with relevant professional experience, transferable skills or lived caring experience who may be suited to this specialised role.

This may include backgrounds in disability support, youth work, education, healthcare, mental health, community services or caring for children and young people with additional needs.

You do not need to know everything before enquiring. Training, guidance and support are provided throughout the process.

Supporting children with complex needs

Children and young people in this program may have needs relating to Autism, ADHD, FASD, intellectual disability, trauma, emotional regulation challenges or other complex support needs.

Professional foster carers provide patience, consistency, structure and a safe home environment where children and young people can feel supported and understood.

The role focuses on building stability, relationships and positive outcomes over time.

Full-time care with ongoing support

Professional foster care is designed as a full-time caring role supported by ongoing training, supervision and wraparound support from Key Assets Australia.

Carers work collaboratively with support services, education providers and care teams to help meet the individual needs of children and young people.

The program recognises that specialised care requires strong support, clear expectations and a collaborative approach.

Ready to take the next step?

Complete our short Professional Foster Care Questionnaire below. It only takes a few minutes and is the quickest way for us to understand your experience, skills and suitability for the program.

If you'd prefer to speak with someone before completing the questionnaire, you can also call our Queensland team.

(07) 3452 9900

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Queensland Professional Foster Care Pilot?

The Professional Foster Care Pilot is a Queensland Government initiative introducing a new home-based care option for children and young people with disabilities and complex additional needs who require higher levels of specialist, consistent support.

The pilot aims to:

  • Provide an alternative to residential care where a home environment is more appropriate
  • Improve stability and outcomes for children with high support needs
  • Test whether a professional foster care model can strengthen the broader out-of-home care system

It will run for an initial 18-month period and be evaluated during that time.

What role does Key Assets Australia Queensland have?

Key Assets Australia Queensland has been selected as one of a small number of organisations participating in the pilot and will deliver the model across South-East Queensland.

Our role includes:

  • Recruiting new professional foster carers
  • Providing specialised training, supervision and wraparound support
  • Supporting carers to deliver structured, individualised care for children placed in the model
  • Working collaboratively with the Department and sector partners throughout the pilot
How does this differ from general foster or kinship care?

Professional foster care:

  • Is designed for children and young people with higher and more complex needs
  • Involves carers who take on a full-time role
  • Recognises the professional skills, experience and intensive commitment required

Importantly, it does not replace foster or kinship care. It sits alongside existing models and expands placement options.

Does this change anything for our current carers?

No. Current foster and kinship carers remain central to Key Assets Australia’s work and are not impacted by the pilot.

Many of our carers already support children with complex needs, and this pilot:

  • Builds on the strengths already in the sector
  • Adds another option for specific circumstances where a professionalised model is most appropriate
  • Does not reduce the importance or value of existing care arrangements

Importantly, it does not replace foster or kinship care. It sits alongside existing models and expands placement options.

Will existing carers be moved into professional foster care roles?

The pilot is designed for new professional foster carers recruited specifically for this model.

Existing carers:

  • Are not expected to change roles
  • Can continue in their current care arrangements as usual
Who are professional foster carers?

Professional foster carers are individuals with:

  • Relevant professional backgrounds, transferable skills and qualifications such as disability, health, education or community services
  • The capacity to provide full-time care and support

Their role is designed around the specific needs of the child or young person.

Will social workers’ roles change because of the pilot?

At this stage:

  • There is no change to core social work roles
  • Some staff may support or interface with the pilot in specific ways as it develops
  • Operational details will be confirmed as foundations are established

Any changes to workflows will be communicated in advance.

How many professional foster carers will be recruited?

Statewide, the Queensland Government plans to recruit up to 100 professional foster carers as part of the pilot.

Key Assets Australia Queensland will support delivery of the pilot in South-East Queensland to support recruitment of an initial 10 professional foster carers.

When will the pilot start placing children?

The pilot is currently in the establishment phase, which includes:

  • Establishing recruitment processes
  • Supporting the recruitment team in the early stages

More information will be communicated once known.

Key Assets Australia deeply honours and celebrates the rich and enduring cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, recognising them as the oldest continuing cultures in the world. We respectfully acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands and waters where we live and work. We recognise their profound spiritual connection to the land and pay heartfelt respects to Elders past, present, and emerging. We acknowledge the deep trauma, grief, and loss experienced by these communities, both historically and presently, and commit to walking alongside them in support and solidarity.

Key Assets Australia is a non-government, not for profit, non-religious, children, family and community services agency. Our purpose is to achieve positive and lasting outcomes for children, families, and communities.

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