Institutional Stressors and Individual Strengths: Policy and Practice Directions for Working with Australian Lesbian and Gay Foster Carers

Abstract

In response to the current shortfall in the number of registered foster carers in Australia, many agencies are now actively recruiting lesbians and gay men as foster carers. Importantly, however, this move towards recognising the role that lesbians and gay men may play as foster carers has on the whole not been supported by laws or policies specifically aimed at protecting such carers. Additionally, findings from a national research project on foster care in Australia presented in this paper highlight the ongoing heterosexism and homophobia faced by lesbian and gay foster carers when working with social workers and birth parents. Importantly, however, these findings highlight not only the negative aspects of foster care provision experienced by lesbians and gay men, but also the positive ways in which they continue to create families and resist or rework social norms. Implications for practice are made with specific reference to challenging such norms amongst social workers and advocating for legal change to support lesbian and gay foster carers.