- $31.8 million boost to support WA's foster and family carers announced as part of the 2026-27 State Budget
- $23.7 million towards subsidy uplift to help ease cost-of-living for households supporting children in care
- State-wide services also expanded to assist family carers sooner and close to home
- Marks launch of Foster and Family Carers Week 2026 (April 6-12) reinforcing Cook Government's commitment to building safe and inclusive communities
Today, the Child Protection Minister Jessica Stojkovski has announced a record $31.8 million to support 91¶ÌÊÓƵ's foster and family carer community to launch Foster and Family Carers Week 2026.
As part of the 2026-27 State Budget, the Cook Government will increase financial support for foster and family carers to help ease cost-of-living challenges with $23.7 million delivering a 10 per cent uplift to subsidy rates, including clothing allowances and short break care.
Under the new rates, a family caring for a 7-12-year-old child in the metro area will receive close to $1,500 extra each year to support their essential service to the community.
$6.9 million will expand existing support services for family carers State-wide ensuring all regional family carer households are appropriately supported, recognising additional challenges in regional areas.
This will see services delivered by Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) in the Goldfields, Great Southern, Mid-West, Gascoyne and South West to complete the State-wide rollout.
The culturally informed services provide practical, in-home supports and include priority access for Aboriginal family carer households.
To empower foster and family carers to make the most of the subsidy uplift, the Cook Government has also developed 'Who Pays in WA,' a digital resource which guides foster family households on the financial supports they can access.
Funding will also continue to grow the number of foster and family carers in 91¶ÌÊÓƵ with 125 new foster and family carers joining through the Cook Government's State-wide recruitment campaign, Become a foster carer - Make a difference to a child's life.
Since launching in August 2023, the campaign has run across social media, radio, digital billboards and podcasts driving enquiries from just 90 per year pre-campaign to more than 700 in the past year.
This State Budget package builds on the Adventure Passes the government announced in March, which will save foster families more than $300 on ticket prices to WA's greatest attractions including Perth Zoo, all WA museums and national parks and Rottnest Island.
A new record, this funding package demonstrates the Cook Government's continued commitment to safe and inclusive communities by ensuring that foster and family carers receive the support they need while providing a safe and stable home for children in need of care.
Running from 6 to 12 April 2026, WA Foster and Family Carers Week seeks to celebrate and acknowledge the incredible contributions of foster and family carers across the State.
For information on becoming a family or foster carer, please contact the Fostering and Family Care team on 1800 182 178 or fostering@communities.wa.gov.au
Comments attributed to Child Protection Minister Jessica Stojkovski:
"Today's $31.8 million State Budget package reinforces the Cook Government's support for our foster and family carers as part of our commitment to building safe and inclusive communities by giving them the helping hand they give others.
"By increasing foster and family carer subsidies we are helping ease financial pressures and ensuring carers know where to access vital supports, our government is making sure families who step up know they are valued and have our support.
"Having grown up in a foster family myself, I know firsthand the difference these families make. They are incredibly valuable and change young lives every day.
"I look forward to continuing to celebrate and acknowledge the enormous impact these families make during this year's WA Foster and Family Carers Week and beyond."
