Become a community foster carer
Wungening is always looking for Community Foster Carers who are committed to keeping our koolangka in care safe and connected – to moort, community and culture.
Connection to culture is where we, as an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation, can really make a difference in supporting you and the koolangka in your care. We know that this is the only way healing can occur.
Our person-centred approach to our Community Foster Carers provides the highest level of tailored, personalised support to you and to the koolangka in your care. If you are interested in becoming a Community Foster Carer, please register your interest today.
Our commitment to you
At Wungening, we work as a team towards the best interests of the koolangka. It’s why we prioritise transparency, respect and trust. We emphasise the importance of walking alongside you, to share our knowledge and empower you to provide the best possible environment to the koolangka in your care.
Collective responsibility for our koolangka is part of our culture. It is how we have done things for thousands of years. We know it works best. Just like we know that the best way we can support the koolangka in your care is to support you.
How to become a Foster Carer:
The Ngalla Bidee Mia processContact Ngalla Bidee Mia
For more information, email OOHC@wungening.com.au
Or register your interest using this form here.
Introductory Phone Call
One of our team members will call for an initial yarn.
Danjoo Discussion
Together we all talk in more detail – you can ask any questions you might have.
Application Forms
By this stage, it’s time for some official paperwork to be completed.
Reference checks
Reference checks include: a police check, working with children card, household safety check, carer health and wellbeing check
Introductory Sessions
We really start to get to know each other.
Preparation training
Important preparation for foster care.
Official Assessment Meetings
A minimum of 5 face-to-face sessions are required.
Approval Process
Ngalla Bidee Mia panel assess your application for approval.
download the
Foster Carer
Fact Sheets
above.
Wandjoo to Ngalla Bidee Mia
Intergenerational trauma, poverty, discrimination and forced child removals – they’ve all contributed to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander koolangka being over-represented in state care.
Wungening acknowledges that historically, Child Protection has been a hurtful and traumatic experience for many people across our community. It’s why we’ve moved into the foster care space, to help ensure that koolangka (children) in care remain connected to moort, Boodja and community – which is essential to their current and future wellbeing.
How we keep our koolangka in care safe
We’re proud to be part of the story shifting those experiences, bringing our strong Aboriginal-led focus on healing, moort (family) and cultural identity to koolangka in care.
Our Ngalla Bidee Mia (NBM) service provides an exceptional level of Aboriginal-led care to koolangka living under our group home and foster-care arrangements.
Ngalla Bidee Mia – which translates to ‘Our Way Home’ in Noongar language – serves as a healing and nurturing space for children referred by the Department of Communities, where we actively try to reunify koolangka with biological parents or place them within their extended moort.
We deliver a flexible and responsive service that is focused on the needs of each individual koolangka, and the network of people who are committed to supporting their development.
Our focus is on two care arrangement types:
- Community foster care, with up to 25 placements; and
- Four group foster-care homes, accommodating up to four children each.