Foster care is in crisis – and Boomers may be the solution

November 11, 2023
Published in The New Daily

Simon Kuestenmacher from The Demographics Group write about the escalating economic pressures, coupled with demographic and societal shifts pose devastating impacts on the available pool of foster carers.

“Even though we are seeing massive population growth in Australia, we are running out of foster carers. Are we a meaner, less caring society? Does the marketing of Australian foster care agencies simply stink? If only it were so simple.

The problem is systemic in nature. Various demographic factors dry out the pool of potential foster carers. To be considered as a foster carer you need to fulfil a few criteria. These differ somewhat from state to state, but you will get the idea if we look at the Victorian criteria.”