In April 2025, the department transitioned to a new client management system (Unify).
Updated data beyond the 31 March 2025 quarter is now available for selected performance measures and will be progressively updated as further data becomes available.
Carer families by type and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status (quarterly)
| Type and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status | 31 Mar 2025 | 30 Jun 2025 | 30 Sep 2025 | 31 Dec 2025 | 31 Mar 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foster carer | 3,917 | 3,847 | 3,971 | 4,049 | 4,041 |
| Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander | 623 | 608 | 632 | 640 | 640 |
| Not Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander(a) | 3,294 | 3,239 | 3,339 | 3,409 | 3,401 |
| Kinship carer | 2,329 | 2,420 | 2,460 | 2,503 | 2,474 |
| Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander | 664 | 700 | 717 | 724 | 736 |
| Not Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander(a) | 1,665 | 1,720 | 1,743 | 1,779 | 1,738 |
| Provisionally approved carer | 288 | 246 | 271 | 299 | 252 |
| Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander | 87 | 58 | 86 | 84 | 75 |
| Not Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander(a) | 201 | 188 | 185 | 215 | 177 |
| Total | 6,534 | 6,513 | 6,702 | 6,851 | 6,767 |
Carer families by type and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status (annual)
| Type and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status | 30 Jun 2021 | 30 Jun 2022 | 30 Jun 2023 | 30 Jun 2024 | 30 Jun 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foster carer | 3,596 | 3,639 | 3,571 | 3,733 | 3,847 |
| Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander | 516 | 538 | 537 | 572 | 608 |
| Not Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander(a) | 3,080 | 3,101 | 3,034 | 3,161 | 3,239 |
| Kinship carer | 2,044 | 2,149 | 2,296 | 2,275 | 2,420 |
| Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander | 493 | 531 | 622 | 650 | 700 |
| Not Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander(a) | 1,551 | 1,618 | 1,674 | 1,625 | 1,720 |
| Provisionally approved carer | 228 | 179 | 201 | 233 | 246 |
| Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander | 63 | 60 | 53 | 69 | 58 |
| Not Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander(a) | 165 | 119 | 148 | 164 | 188 |
| Total | 5,868 | 5,967 | 6,068 | 6,241 | 6,513 |
Ratio of children in home-based care to number of approved carer families (quarterly)
| 31 Mar 2025 | 30 Jun 2025 | 30 Sep 2025 | 31 Dec 2025 | 31 Mar 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of children in home-based care | 10,447 | 10,605 | 10,673 | 10,766 | 10,743 |
| Number of approved carer families | 6,534 | 6,513 | 6,702 | 6,851 | 6,767 |
| Ratio | 1.60 | 1.63 | 1.59 | 1.57 | 1.59 |
Ratio of children in home-based care to number of approved carer families (annual)
| 30 Jun 2021 | 30 Jun 2022 | 30 Jun 2023 | 30 Jun 2024 | 30 Jun 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ratio | 1.65 | 1.63 | 1.62 | 1.60 | 1.63 |
Source: Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety
Notes
1. Data is as at the reference date.
2. Counts the number of approved foster, kinship and provisionally approved carer families as at the reference date.
3. Foster carers: Are counted regardless of whether they had a child placed with them on the reference date.
4. Kinship carers: Are counted only if they have a child placed in their care on the reference date.
5. Provisionally approved carers: Are counted only if they have a child placed in their care on the reference date.
6.The department transitioned to a new client management system (Unify) in April 2025 which requires rebuilding datasets for reporting purposes. Potential data integrity issues may emerge as Unify matures and inter-related datasets are rebuilt. As a result, data for the period June 2025 onwards may be subject to correction to maintain accuracy and transparency.
(a) Non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander: Includes non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander carers and carers whose Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status is unknown or not stated.
Carer families
Approved carers play a key role in the child protection system, providing care for children when separation from their parents is required to ensure their safety.
The approval of carers is prescribed by the Child Protection Act 1999 and the Child Protection Regulation 2011. There are three types of approved carers:
- foster carers - Approved to care for any child or young person in the custody or guardianship of the chief executive (Director-General) of the department
- kinship carers - Approved to care for a specific child or children who are members of their extended family or community, or with whom they have a pre-existing significant relationship. For an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child, they must also have a cultural connection to the child.
- provisionally approved carers - Applicants wishing to become approved as kinship or foster carers who initially receive a provisional certificate of approval. An applicant will only be issued with a provisional certificate when they have been provisionally assessed as suitable to care for a particular child.
In Queensland, there is a critical need for more foster and kinship carers to allow the department and fostering and kinship care agencies to better match the needs of children with suitable carers.
An increased pool and diversity of available foster carers will ensure the best possible matching of care arrangements to the individual needs of children requiring a care arrangement.
To learn more about becoming a foster carer, please visit:
https://www.dcssds.qld.gov.au/campaign/foster-care-recruitment/foster-carer-stories
If you are a family member of a child in care and are considering becoming a kinship carer please visit:
Carer individual demographics
Source: Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety
- Data is as at the reference date.
- Counts the number of approved foster, kinship and provisionally approved carers as at the reference date.
- Foster carers: Are counted regardless of whether they had a child placed with them on the reference date.
- Kinship carers: Are counted only if they have a child placed in their care on the reference date.
- Provisionally approved carers: Are counted only if they have a child placed in their care on the reference date.
- Non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander: Includes non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander carers and carers' whose Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status is unknown or not stated.
- Foster carer: A foster carer is an individual approved by Child Safety to provide family-based care for children in their own home. Foster carers undergo a thorough screening, assessment and training process prior to being approved, to assess their ability to provide care for children in line with the legislated standards of care and to provide them with support to do so.
- Kinship carer: A person who is related to the child or a member of the child's community who is considered family or a close friend, who has been approved by the department to provide family-based care for the child. Kinship carers are approved for a specific child.
- Provisionally approved carer: A provisionally approved carer is a person who has been approved to care for a particular child for a defined period of time. A provisionally approved carer must have made an application to be either a foster or kinship carer.