Things your private foster carer should and shouldn't do

While you are living with them they should look after you as if you were their own child. They must do all the everyday things for you that parents do for their own children.

• Give you regular meals – like breakfast, lunch and supper


• Make sure that your hair and skin are properly looked after


• Make sure you have warm clean clothes and a bed of your own


• Make sure you go to school so you can learn


• Take you to the doctor or the hospital if you are sick or injured, or if you need vaccinations


• Take you to the dentist so your teeth are looked after properly


• Make sure you have a chance to make friends and to enjoy sports and hobbies that you like


• Help you stay in touch with your family


• Help you follow your religion and customs that are important to you and your family

Your private foster carers must also respect the things that are important to you and your family. If you have religious customs like special prayer times or special foods that you eat, your private foster carers should respect these things and help you to follow these customs. They must help you learn about your culture and meet people from your community who speak your language.
Things a private foster carers must not do

You are still the child of your own parents. Your private foster carers must not:

• change your name


• change your school


• move you to another family


• take you to another part of this country


• take you overseas to another country without telling your parents and asking their permission.

If you need serious medical treatment, your own parents have to agree to this – unless it is an emergency and your parents cannot be contacted quickly enough. Then a doctor will decide what to do.