âItâs tough but it doesnât stop usâ A desperate plea has gone out for more foster carers, after the numbers of children who couldnât safely stay at home hit almost 11,600 last financial year. Parenting by Jessica Marszalek Premium Content Subscriber only Queensland needs an extra 1000 foster carers to house the escalating numbers of vulnerable children being taken from their parents and all are being urged to open their homes. Children's Minister Leanne Linard said there had been an increase in the need for foster carers last year as the stresses of the pandemic hit households and the numbers of children who couldn't safely stay at home hit nearly 11,600 in 2019-20 - more than 1000 more than the year before.