Caregivers come from all sorts of backgrounds. Caregivers can be married, partnered or single. They can be working full-time or a stay-at-home parent. Some caregivers own their own home, while other caregivers are renting.
What all successful caregivers have in common is the ability to provide a safe, nurturing home, and the capacity to understand how trauma impacts on a child’s behaviour.
Caring for a child who has experienced trauma does require understanding. It is crucially important to have training and support throughout the caregiving journey to ensure you are equipped for the role, and can provide a place where positive change can occur.
Applying To Be A Caregiver
Types of Care
Applying To Be A Caregiver

A police check.

A series of personal interviews, one of which is conducted in your home.

A medical report from your doctor.

Training (specific programme depends on the agency you are working with).

Checks with two referees.
Where to Apply
The list below outlines the agencies available in your region.
Nationwide
Oranga Tamariki, the Ministry for Children – Caregiver recruitment and training
- Phone: 0508 FAMILY (0508 326 459)
- Email: contact@ot.govt.nz
- orangatamariki.govt.nz
Key Assets – Caregiver recruitment and training
- Phone: 09 263 5151
- Email: info@keyassets.co.nz
- keyassets.co.nz
Open Home Foundation – Caregiver recruitment and training
- Phone 04 586 1077
- ohf.org.nz/contact-us
CCS Disability Action
- Phone: 0800 227 2255
- Email: info@ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz
- www.ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz/support-us/become-a-caregiver/
Upper North
Ngapuhi Iwi Social Services – Kaikohe – Iwi services
- Phone: 09 401 5548
- Email: niss@ngapuhi.org
- ngapuhi.iwi.nz
Barnardos – Whangarei – Respite services
- Phone: 09 4382954
- Email: allen@barnardos.org.nz
- barnardos.org.nz
Youth Horizons – Whangarei – Home based caregiver and residential home caregiver recruitment
- Phone: 09 213 2372
- Email: petert@youthhorizons.org.nz
- youthorizons.org.nz
Auckland
Barnardos – Royal Oak –Caregiver recruitment and training
- Phone: 0800 BARNARDOS
- Email: aucklandfostercare@barnardos.org.nz
- barnardos.org.nz
Immerse
- Phone: 09 282 3724 or 0508 FOSTER
- Email: info@immerse.org.nz
- https://immerse.org.nz/
Lifewise – New Lynn – Caregiver recruitment and training
- Phone: 09 818 6834
- Email: familyservices@lifewise.org.nz
- lifewise.org.nz
Te Iwi o Ngati Kahu Trust – Papatoetoe – Iwi caregiver recruitment and training
- Phone: 09 250 4797
- Email: enquiries@tionk.co.nz
- ngatikahu.iwi.nz
Reconnect Family Services – Manukau – Caregiver recruitment and training
- Phone: 09 926 3540
- Email: atawhailink@youthlink.org.nz
- reconnect.org.nz/
Youth Horizons – Waikato – Caregiver recruitment and training
- Phone: 07 838 3671
- Email: hamilton@youthhorizons.org.nz
- youthhorizons.org.nz
Central North
Homes of Hope – Tauranga – Caregiver recruitment and training
- Phone; 07 578 9826
- Email: info@homesofhope.org.nz
- homesofhope.org.nz
Youth Horizons – Bay of Plenty – Caregiver recruitment and training
- Phone: 07 575 2639
- Email: gillian.overmire@youthorizons.org.nz
- youthhorizons.org.nz
Lower North
Across – Palmerston North – Caregiver recruitment and training
- Phone: 0800 ACROSS (0800 227 677)
- Email: enquiries@across.org.nz
- across.org.nz
Barnardos – Levin – Respite caregiver recruitment and training
- Phone: 06 368 0098
- Email: Click here for a form
- barnardos.org.nz
Kokiri Marae Social Services – Hutt Valley – Whanau caregiver recruitment and training
- Phone: 04 564 1338
- Email: info@kokiri-hauora.org.nz
- www.kokiri.org.nz/
Wesley Community Action – Wellington – Caregiver recruitment
- Phone: 04 385 3727
- Email: info@wesleyca.org.nz
- wesleyca.org.nz
Upper South
Homebuilder West Coast Trust – Westport – Respite caregiver recruitment and training
- Phone: 03 788 8065
- Email: office@homebuilderswpt.co.nz
- homebuildersfs.org
Otago
Anglican Family Care
Caregiver recruitment
- Phone: 0800 FAM CARE
- Email: Enquires@FamilyCare.org.nz
- https://anglicanfamilycare.org.nz/
Lower South
Family Works – Invercargill
Caregiver recruitment and training
- Phone: 03 211 8226
- Email: fc@familyworkssld.nz
- pss.org.nz/family-works
Types of Care
Respite care
Respite caregivers take on the role of a surrogate relative, providing care for a short period of time to give the regular caregiver a break. This is a great opportunity to have a positive influence on a child’s life, even if you are not able to commit to full-time caregiving.
Emergency care
Emergency caregivers provide safe havens for children and young people who have been removed from their home, often suddenly because of an imminent risk. Emergency caregivers need specialist skills to help the children and young people process what has happened to them.
Transitional or short-term care
Sometimes it is not immediately possible for social workers to determine the long-term plan for a child or young person. In those situations, high quality short term care is needed. Transitional or short-term caregivers need to provide stability, love and understanding during what is an unsettling time for the child.
Family home care
Permanent care
When it is determined a child will not return to their birth family, social workers look for other permanent options. Permanent caregivers provide a ‘Guardianship’ for children who need one. This involves a legal process which results in the child or young person transitioning out of the care of the State, and into the care of the permanent caregivers.
Regional Support
Caring Families Aotearoa has ten Regional Coordinators covering New Zealand.
They provide advice, guidance and support to individual members, member Associations and Support Groups and agencies in their regions.
They also network with Non Government Organisations (NGO) and their local Oranga Tamariki sites.
Should you need support, advice or would like to be connected to caregivers in your area please contact the Regional Coordinator in your area.