How to holiday with children in foster care and create lifelong memories

As we edge closer to the end of the year, there’s one thing on our minds...holidays!

Prospective foster carers often ask us if they can take the child or young person in their care on holidays. The short answer is yes, you can! Many of our foster carers regularly take holidays with the kids in their care and create memories that’ll last a lifetime for all!

Going on holidays is often a very exciting, educational, and memorable experience for a child or young person and so it’s something that Berry Street wholeheartedly supports. Continue reading to learn about how holidaying with a child in your care works...

What are some of the travel destinations carer households often visit?

Over the years, Berry Street foster carers have taken children and young people on amazing holidays to destinations such as Europe, the United States of America, and Bali. One lucky child even spent Christmas skiing in Geneva!

Of course, you don’t need to holiday overseas to have a wonderful break. Closer to home, many Victorian foster carers choose to holiday in New South Wales and Queensland. And let’s not forget about our backyard – Victoria. From camping in the bush to staying near the beach, there are many fabulous destinations to suit how you like to holiday and your budget.

Consider holidaying in destinations with extended family, providing an extra relaxing break in a supportive environment.

To support a child’s cultural heritage, foster carers have even travelled to places like Indonesia and Vietnam so that the child can visit their biological cousins, grandparents, aunties, and uncles. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people are often supported to return to Country.

Berry Street foster carers, Laurise and David, have been foster carers with Berry Street since 2009. They love planning adventures for the children in their care, from day trips to the Melbourne Zoo, to camping and family holidays.

How to prepare for travelling with children and young people in your care

As with any holiday, planning is required.

If you’re planning to holiday in Victoria, you don’t need to seek permission to travel, but we ask that you inform us of your destination and travel dates.

If you’re planning to travel interstate, we’ll need to seek permission from the child or young person's guardian on your behalf.

Of course, international travel requires the most planning, and you’ll need to let us know of your travel plans well in advance. The destination must be safe for travel, as assessed by Smarttraveller. We may also need to arrange a passport for the child or young person in your care.

Wherever in the world you’re planning to travel to, our friendly foster care team will support you through the process and ensure you have all the necessary documentation and permissions, as well as helpful tips to prepare the child in your care to travel.

And remember, all the planning will be worth it when you see the joy and memories you are creating for the child or young person in your care.

Become a foster carer and support a local child

Childhood is a journey. Partner with Berry Street to support a child or young person on theirs.

As a Berry Street foster carer, you’ll be a part of a team that is committed to supporting children and young people who cannot live safely at home. By providing a safe and nurturing place to live – you'll be there for them at a crucial moment in their life.