Transition to the new Family Based Care Services Investment Specification
The transition to new service types under the Family Based Care Services Investment Specification (PDF, 1.3 MB) is a priority for our department. When completed, it will support a more tailored and responsive care system for children and young people and improve the way we provide support to foster and kinship carers.
The new service types will create greater flexibility in how services are delivered and help to improve carer recruitment rates and support options. The new services include:
- Connecting Kin services that focus on family finding, connection and engagement about becoming kinship carers for children in care.
- Equipping Kin services that focus on provisional and initial kinship care assessments.
- Supporting Kin services that focus on meeting the needs of approved kinship carer households, including renewal assessments.
- Foster Care Recruitment services that focus on generating interest in and initial assessments for foster care applicants.
- Supporting Foster Care services that focus on meeting the needs of approved foster carer households, including renewal assessments.
Transition will also support alignment of investment with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Organisations and Indigenous Businesses to respond to the needs of first nation families and carers.
The transition to the new service types will be adaptable to local needs and conditions and will occur over 3 phases, beginning in 2025 noting that market testing and early adopter services commenced in some locations.
The transition to new service types will be take place in 3 phases, over 3 years.
- Phase 1, the statewide Expression of Interest (EOI) and industry briefings undertaken in 2025 to inform and prepare the market. This EOI has closed.
- Phase 2 activities will commence in 2026 with:
- existing service providers to realign service delivery with the new Family Based Care service types with a focus on dedicated kinship care services and
- new and existing service providers for standalone foster care recruitment services.
- Phase 3 activities will realign remaining services via a combination of direct, select and open tender process for foster and kinship care support to match regional demand. Where planning allows Phases 2 and 3 may occur together.
Key Activities
New Foster Care Recruitment Services: Tender process opened on 12 January 2026 for new stand-alone foster care recruitment services to be established in five locations in Queensland. The tender can be accessed on the Vendor Panel Public Tenders website.
Brisbane and Moreton Bay region has already established a foster care recruitment service as an early adopter service.
Industry briefings are advertised via Vendor Panel. Tenders will close by Monday 9 February 2026. Providers are encouraged to register via this link to ensure they receive information and updates on the tender process.
Why are the changes necessary?
We have listened to consistent feedback from our foster and kinship carers for more flexible financial and practical supports for carer households.
Our department works closely with the sector through strong partnerships and consultation and collaboration. This helped us develop these new service types to better support foster and kinship carers.
Transitioning to new service types aims to:
- improve carer recruitment and retention rates
- create greater flexibility in how services are delivered to match the needs of children and young people and their carers
- address issues with existing service models by implementing new funding models, which include a base rate plus a brokerage amount.
We will keep carers and providers informed through the release of regular updates through the department’s website, within the QFKC newsletter and their website, and via the Carer Connect App notice board.
Where can I go for more information?
- For Carers - Support agency or QFKC
- For Service Providers – PeakCare
- Interested and existing services providers are encouraged to register on Vendor Panel and subscribe to the Community & Social Services; Out of Home Care (OOCC) Services Category
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