Care 2 Thrive
Care 2 Thrive supports children with complex support needs through an enhanced therapeutic model of family-based care.
What is Care 2 Thrive?
The Life Without Barriers Care 2 Thrive program provides a safe, stable, and supportive family-based care environment for a child or young person with complex support requirements. Care 2 Thrive is provided by specialist kinship or foster carers who are supported by Life Without Barriers to deliver daily care.
The program involves a whole of team approach providing the opportunity for children and young people to thrive and to heal through normalised childhood experiences.
Real Stories
“It's so rewarding for the child and yourself. Like, it's absolutely fantastic!”
Kathryn and Neil are foster carers in Hobart who have a young boy in their care. They have been carers with Life Without Barriers since the beginning of 2023. With Care 2 Thrive, they will look after this young person full-time until he is an adult
What do we look for in Care 2 Thrive carers?
Care 2 Thrive carers are people who have the capacity and training to meet the complex needs of children and young people moving from therapeutic residential or alternate care, and/or are experiencing significant placement instability.
Finding the right carers for children and young people entering Care 2 Thrive involves finding the right match, with robust and joint decision-making so that the child or young person is confident in returning to home-based care.
What is the process to become a Care 2 Thrive carer?
All prospective foster and kinship carers who will support children through the Care 2 Thrive program are required to undergo additional assessment and training on top of the mandatory assessment and training required in your state or territory. This includes completion of CARE and Therapeutic Crisis Intervention.
How is Care 2 Thrive different from other types of foster care?
Image: How is Care 2 Thrive different from other foster care programs comparison table.
Which children and young people are cared for in Care 2 Thrive?
Care 2 Thrive supports children and young people in care with complex needs who are living in therapeutic residential or alternate care, and/or are experiencing significant placement instability. These complex needs may include disabilities, high medical needs, mental health, or behavioural needs. Care 2 Thrive is primarily a one-on-one care type, however, may be considered for siblings where appropriate.
Why Care 2 Thrive with Life Without Barriers?
We believe that children, young people and their families have the right to be supported to do well, and that Care 2 Thrive provides the opportunity for children and young people with complex needs to have a more normalised care experience. As an organisation, we have a strong value set and work from an evidence-informed foundation to provide quality outcomes for everyone who engages with our service.
What support do Care 2 Thrive carers receive?
Individualised support: Both the child and the carer will have access to individualised wrap-around therapeutic supports as appropriate to their wholistic needs.
Financial support: An enhanced carer allowance or reimbursement will be provided directly to the carer. The amount of allowance is determined based on the specific circumstances and care needs of the child and is inclusive of the standard allowance currently received by carers.
Download the Care 2 Thrive national brochure.
Read more about support provided for our carers.
CARE: We are committed to ensuring carers and staff support children in a way that creates conditions for positive change.
Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI): This evidence-informed model is used to teach staff and carers how to help children handle stress in constructive ways.
Family involved: Protecting a child’s first and most enduring relationships.
Could you be a Care 2 Thrive Carer?
If you're interested in supporting a child or young person, get in touch with us! We can answer any questions you have about the process.