At least 450 new carers will be required across NSW in the next year, and Armidale's Foundations Care service manager Anna Cooper said our region was not immune to the shortage.

"At the moment there is an urgent need for foster carers from all walks of life to provide care for children," Ms Cooper said.

"Our carers are normal people doing extraordinary things and we always need more."

Tamworth couple Kerry and Rob (whose surnames cannot be revealed for legal reasons) have been foster parents for the past six years, and Kerry is used to being called "the old woman who lives in a shoe" because of their many foster children.

The pair currently have six children: two biological and four foster children, from toddler to teenaged.

Two of the foster children are sisters, and Kerry stressed the importance of keeping the family connection.

"Sometimes they're the only ones from the family they've got (because) a lot of the time extended family walk away as well.

"You offer them a second chance at a good life.

"A lot of them just need a bit of love and direction.

"It's helped our kids as well to see that not all kids have it easy like they do."

She said it could be "heartbreaking" to see the heavy issues her foster children had faced.

"I just see myself as giving someone an extra chance; I don't think I'm extraordinary," she said.

Ms Cooper said anybody could be a carer for any length of time, from as little as one weekend a month, to emergency or respite, to long-term care.

She said carers could be empty-nesters, single, married, same-sex couples, or from different cultures and religious backgrounds.

"Regardless of the reason why a child is in care, the child is the same as any other except they are highly likely to experience some trauma from abuse, neglect, poverty, homelessness or family breakdown."

People interested in foster care through Foundations Care can call 6707 1000 or go to www.foundcarekids.org.au