About the assessment and training process

Caring for children unable to live in their family home is a very special and important role, so choosing the right people for the task is essential. The assessment process involves child-safe screening checks, a series of home interviews and completion of the ‘Shared Stories, Shared Lives’ foster carer training.

When you are allocated an assessment worker, they will contact you to arrange a mutually agreeable time to meet you in your home for the initial information exchange. At this session, your worker can help answer any more questions you have about a foster care application or the assessment process.

The ‘Step by Step’ Assessment Tool is a strength-based assessment where we ask you to provide evidence of your ability to care for children by exploring and working through the following competencies:

A. Information exchange and safety session

B. Attitudes and connections

C. Personal resilience

D. Child-focused nurture

E. Working with others

If you wish to care for an Aboriginal child, you will be required to meet the cultural competency once you have completed the Cultural Competency training. Our Lutheran Care Aboriginal Cultural Worker delivers our training and will work with you to determine your capacity and commitment to care for an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child.

Visit Care for an Aboriginal Child if you would like more information.

We understand that applying to be a foster carer can appear to be a rigorous process. We want to thank you for your patience and understanding of our responsibility to ensure that children and young people are provided with the highest quality of care.

At Lutheran Care we pride ourselves on being a personal, connected and transparent agency, and we serve to help your assessment and training journey run as smooth as possible.