Carer Connect NSW

Welcome to Carer Connect NSW. It’s a free web portal and app for authorised foster, relative and kinship carers across NSW. Everyone can access news and resources.

If you’re a foster carer, you can also update your household profile, household details, unavailable dates and caring capacity.

Keeping this information current helps your caseworker and agency understand what may work well for your household and a child. They’ll still talk each placement through with you.

To get started, open the Carer Connect NSW link from DCJ or your agency and select Log in with Service NSW. Or download the app on your smartphone or tablet. These will look different to what you see here, but they will have all the same features.

The first time, you’ll be guided through registration and an identity check. Have your Working with Children Check or application number and Carers Register reference number handy. Your reference number is on your authorisation letter. If you can’t find it, ask your caseworker.

After that, sign in with your Service NSW details. If you get stuck, select Contact Us.

Once you’re signed in, you’ll start on Home. You’ll see your welcome message, any On hold or reminder banners, and a preview of your calendar.

We’ll now look at the extra sections for foster carers. If you’re a relative or kinship carer, you can skip ahead to Resources and help.

Household profile is a good place to start. Let’s look at it now.

The first time you open Household profile, the form is ready to fill in. Scroll past the summary and household members, then select Next to reach Contact details.

Check your phone and email, and choose how you’d like to be contacted. An asterisk marks a required field. Select a help icon if you’re unsure.

Select Next to add your skills and qualifications, then Save. If a detail can’t be edited and doesn’t look right, ask your caseworker.

To add dates when your household isn’t available for a new placement, open Your availability and select Add unavailability. You don’t need to add available days.

Enter your dates and choose a reason, including Prefer not to say. For a regular commitment, turn on Recurrence. Let’s add every Monday and Tuesday for the next month, then select Save.

You can view the calendar by month, week or list. If plans change, open the event and select the cancel option. Once it’s cancelled, you’ll see a confirmation message.

Next, open Authorisation to see the care your household is authorised to provide. These details are read-only. If something doesn’t look right, ask your caseworker.

Then open Household details. Take a moment to read the privacy notice, which explains how your information will be used. Work through the questions, using the help icons when you need them. Some questions let you choose Prefer not to say. Save when you’re finished.

In Caring capacity, add what you may be able to offer now. Five questions are linked to your authorisation, so your choices stay within those limits. Open the dropdowns to see your options. If you’re unsure, choose that option where available or ask your caseworker. Then select Save.

Back on Home, scroll down to Noticeboard for updates and Resources for guidance and support. Open a resource, then use the links at the top of the page to go back.

Select the bell to preview your notifications. You can also open the profile menu and select Profile and settings.

If you need a hand, choose Help or Frequently asked questions. You can read the guidance or use the online form to get in touch.

For sign-in or password problems, use the login page. Service NSW manages your password.

It’s completely up to you whether you use Carer Connect NSW. Start with the sections available to you, and come back when something changes.

If you need a hand, ask your caseworker or agency. Thanks for everything you do to support children and young people.

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