Join with churches around Australia in celebrating our Foster and Kinship Carers and raising awareness of the needs in this space, as well as the opportunities for the local church to be part of the solution!
Foster Care Sunday provides an opportunity for the Church to come together in unity to:
- Celebrate the significant role of Foster and Kinship Carers who are living on mission, providing loving homes for children who are unable to live with their birth family;
- Raise awareness of the need for more homes for children and young people; and
- Consider ways your church can respond and be a safe and supportive space for those involved in the Out-of-Home Care system.
Foster Care Sunday 2025 is Sunday 14th September.
In many States and Territories the Child Protection sector celebrates Foster Carer Week during the second week of September (following national Child Protection Week), however you can recognise Foster Care Sunday on any date that suits your church!
On Foster Care Sunday…
It’s as easy as:
One: Play the video
Two: Pray
Three: Provide pathways (see below!)
You might also want to:
- Preach a sermon on a related them
- Interview a carer to hear their story
- Post on your social media
- Host carers for lunch after the service
- Host an Info Session after the service for people to find out more!
Schedule a call with us!
Email hello@homewardproject.org. We’ll help you plan your Foster Care Sunday and provide all of the resources you need.
Foster Care Sunday Resources
We’ve got resources to help make it easy for you church to celebrate Foster Care Sunday and are here to help you plan what it can look like in your church.
Foster Care Sunday_The Homeward Project 2025
- Foster Care Sunday 2025 Video (2023 and 2024 videos available to view here)
- Screen images & social media assets
- Talking points
- Additional resources including sermon outlines, communication guidelines, and information about Out-of-Home Care in Australia are available.
Email us at hello@homewardproject.org to request the Foster Care Sunday video and resources, and we can give you ideas and support to recognise this day in your church.
Pathways (next steps)
We don’t all have to do the same thing, but we can all do something! Everyone can play a role in serving children, carers, and families in our community.
Possible pathways we can help you to provide members of your church to respond:
- Find out more: follow @homewardproject or visit homewardproject.org
- Enquire: Have someone available in the foyer to provide more information (we can equip a Homeward Advocate on your team).
- Submit an Interest Form: Provide the Interest Form for people to express interest in a next step to: Foster, Serve, or Give.
- Attend an Info Session: Host a Homeward Info Session (with our support!) where people can come and learn more about the needs and opportunities to be involved.
We can work with your team to choose pathways best suited to your church and provide you with screen images with QR codes and helpful social media assets.
Why Foster Care Sunday?
- There are over 45,400 children in Out-of-Home Care in Australia.
- As the number of children being removed from their families has been increasing, the number of Foster Carers is decreasing.
- This is an urgent opportunity for the church to demonstrate the ‘pure religion’ of James 1:27 and reflect God’s heart for the most vulnerable children in our community.
- Children need families, families need community, and the local Church can provide both!
- The role of a Foster or Kinship Carer is important, unique, and challenging; carers need our support.
- We’re not all called to be carers but we can all do something to create communities of welcome, safety, and support for those with an experience of the Out-of-Home Care system.
Foster Care Sunday is an initiative of the Australian Christian Foster Care Network, a coalition of Christian organisations and leaders mobilising and supporting engagement in the Foster Care space in Australia. The Homeward Project is proud to be a founding member of this network alongside ARK Australia, Fostering Hope, and YouParties.
