Out-of-Home Care
Burrun Dalai provides an Out-of-Home Care service for Aboriginal children and young people who are unable to live with their own families.
Our children and young people only stay in care until they're able to safely return home. The length of time in care will vary. If they're not able to return to their birth parents, we try to locate a member of the child’s immediate/extended family to care for them.
During the children and young people’s stay in care, they are cared for by Foster Carers who take on the responsibilities of a parent, providing a culturally safe, nurturing, and secure family environment.
There are generally 5 types of Foster Care:
These are the placement options available at Burrun Dalai so even if you already have a child placed with you can discuss with your caseworker if you feel you are able to provide more care.
Immediate or crisis care
Emergency placements are for children who need an urgent placement because there are concerns for their immediate safety. These placements can occur after-hours and on weekends. Emergency carers need to be able to provide care for very young children at short notice.
Short to medium-term care
This can last for anywhere from a few months to two years. Short to medium-term care has a strong focus on reuniting the child with their birth parents or extended family within two years of the child or young person’s coming to live with them. In some circumstances a short-term carer may be caring for a child before they move to another carer who is not a relative or kin.
Respite care
From time to time, parents and carers need a break from their caring role. Respite care is for short periods of time, such as school holidays, weekends or for short periods during the week.
Long-term or permanent care
These are placements for longer than two years. Long-term or permanent care usually occurs when the child is not expected to return to their family. In some circumstances, carers can apply to become legal guardians of, or adopt children, who have been in their long-term care.
Relative or kinship care
Relative or kinship care is when a child or young person lives with a relative or someone they already know.
Burrun Dalai’s primary goals for the children/young people in our care is restoration (child/young person returns to parents) or guardianship (child/young person goes into the care of family member/significant other).