Young siblings in out-of-home care now have a new place to call home after the opening of the fifth Waratah Care Cottage in Sydney's south-west.
This latest cottage is the fifth in a series of publicly owned care homes for children set up by the Minns Labor Government as part of landmark reforms to out-of-home care in NSW.
A decade of privatisation by the previous government led to a spiralling child protection system that drove vulnerable children into high-cost emergency arrangements, and often saw siblings being split up.
Now more vulnerable young people will have a stable therapeutic home environment to build routine, stay connected to school and heal. Recent Halloween festivities have been a highlight, with the kids full of excitement to be trick-or-treating around their new neighbourhood together.
The cottages accommodate up to four children and provide:
- Trauma-informed care which supports recovery and wellbeing
- Improved outcomes for children and young people
- Better staffing models with increased visibility and accountability
- Reduced service delivery costs
This work is another demonstration of the Minns Labor Government delivering on its commitment to protect vulnerable children, supported by our historic $1.2 billion Child Protection Package in the 2025-26 Budget.
The Waratah Care Cottages pilot program commenced in 2024 and is being expanded as part of a $49.2 million investment in publicly owned care homes for children with complex needs.
Minister for Families and Communities Kate Washington said:
"Siblings who cannot live safely with family deserve a stable home where they can grow and heal together. Our record investment in child protection is making that a reality.
"I'm pleased our fifth Waratah Care Cottage is already delivering what it's designed to do - provide safety, stability and healing for more siblings.
"We have much more to do in reforming the child protection system, but by having vulnerable children at the heart of every decision we make, we're heading in the right direction."
Department of Communities and Justice Secretary Michael Tidball said:
"The Waratah Care Cottages are specifically designed to provide a stable, trauma-informed environment for children and young people until they can find a permanent placement.
"They allow us to take more children and young people out of High-Cost Emergency Arrangements, ensuring improved outcomes.
"We are pleased that we have opened five Waratah cottages in Sydney to provide accredited care to children and young people. We are also focusing on broader initiatives, including recruiting foster carers and investing in family preservation."
