FosterCare Sports

Matthew Smith & Margaret Armstrong

Co-Founders

Matthew Smith and Margaret Armstrong are co-founders of FosterCare Sports, a charity connecting children in out-of-home care with local community sporting clubs to remove barriers to participation and belonging. Matthew, who serves as the organisation’s founder, brings extensive leadership experience as the current CEO of Sydney Community Colleges and the founder of the Australian Learning Group. He is joined by Margaret, a dedicated educator with the NSW Department of Education who previously served as the co-founder and Director of Studies at the Australian Learning Group.

Sydney, NSW

FosterCare Sports connects children in out-of-home care with local sports clubs, coordinating practical support so they can join teams, build friendships, and feel they belong.

More than 45,000 children in Australia are currently in foster and out-of-home care, many facing repeated moves, instability and significant trauma. FosterCare Sports helps reduce that disruption by rapidly connecting children to local sports teams ensuring they can experience the protective benefits of community sport, including connection, belonging and positive relationships.

FosterCare Sports is a registered charity that works alongside out-of-home carers, case workers, government agencies and local community sport clubs to help these children access local sport and the protective benefits that come with it.

By partnering with clubs willing to provide additional support, we remove common barriers to participation such as registration costs, mid-season entry challenges and access to uniforms and equipment. This allows children to join quickly, build confidence, form positive relationships and feel part of their new community.

What they’re pitching for…

FosterCare Sports is seeking flexible funding to expand the number of children in out-of-home care we can connect into community sport, particularly in areas where location-based funding limits access.

Support will be used to remove practical barriers that prevent children from joining local clubs, including registration fees, mid-season placements, uniforms and equipment, and outreach into underserved communities. This enables faster connection into teams and ensures more children in the out-of-home care sector can experience belonging, friendships, routine and confidence through sport.

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