In September, Australians observe foster care week, an annual event celebrating foster carers in the local community and acknowledging the need for more carers. Never has there been a better time in Australia for foster carers to commit. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2009-10 Child Protection Australia, 12,200 more children were in out-of-home care in June 2010 when compared with June 2005 – an increase of 51% total and 9% each year. In NSW, there were 16,175 children in out-of-home care in 2010.
During foster care week, CareSouth feels it important to celebrate our current foster carers and their dedication to children in our local community. These caring couples have shown CareSouth that REAL PEOPLE DO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE – and for this, we applaud them.
Tim & Kim, Nowra
Local Southcoast residents Kim and Tim cannot even remember what life was like before they became long term foster carers through CareSouth’s Nowra office three and a half years ago. Always curious about being foster parents but unsure how it would fit into their own lives, the couple decided to call CareSouth after seeing posters about the foster care program.
“There are so many children who need a safe, loving and secure family environment and we thought that we could provide that,” said Tim and Kim.
“We are young and energetic and committed,” said the couple. “We have seen children’s lives who have not had that and wanted to make a difference.”
In addition to the three children they care for, the couple also has a child of their own who absolutely adores his new brothers and sisters. While Tim is a full time high school teacher, Kim works part-time, spending the majority of her time caring for their four children.
“We are so enriched by these beautiful children who have come into our lives,” said Kim and Tim. “Sure we have ups and downs, but that’s just life,” they said.
The family loves camping, going to the beach, surfing, bike riding, going to the skate park, cooking, watching movies and playing puzzles. They’ve also started a regular family trip to the snow – something the children love but had never done before.
“Seeing the smiles and joy in the children that we care for…watching them learn new things, make new friends and seeing them have opportunities that they would not otherwise have is our favourite part of being a carer,” the couple said.
Julie & Ian, Wollongong
When Wollongong residents Julie and Ian’s children had grown into their 20s, the couple decided they were not finished being parents. The potential to be foster carers for a child in need was in their thoughts for many years before Ian literally saw a sign – a large CareSouth banner advertising for new foster carers – every time he drove to and from his Sydney work office. They could no longer ignore what they believed to be their calling to help a child less fortunate than their own.
“We talked a lot to our children about it before committing– to make sure they were ok with us becoming foster parents. Rob Wilson came out to chat with us and then we went to training and got very excited,” said Julie. “It will be three years this October since we have been caring for Matthew*, and I can say that he is one of us now…he is very much a part of our family and our birth children consider Matthew their little brother.”
Julie and Ian have a permanent full time foster care arrangement through CareSouth’s Wollongong office. The couple says Matthew is busy every afternoon with football, bike riding, soccer, swimming, tennis and at one point, Taekwondo lessons – activities Matthew had never done before coming into care with Julie and Ian.
“He has come such a long way – he is now calm and settled, and very articulate,” said Julie. “We have his trust now so he is very open to us considering where he came from. He is a little treasure to us,” she said.
“I just love being a foster mum,” said Julie, who previously worked at a local high school, but has now chosen to be a foster mum full time.
“It is important that Matthew knows we are there everyday if he needs us,” said Julie, who tries to attend every CareSouth foster carer training held. “He knows I’ll be there which makes him feel very secure.”
*Matthew is not his real name
Veronica & Mat, Queanbeyan
“We always wanted to be foster carers,” said local Queanbeyan resident and CareSouth foster carer Veronica. Veronica and Mat, who have their own one year-old daughter, decided to also take on the role of foster parents to two girls and one older boy in their hometown of Queanbeyan. To say that they have their hands full is an understatement.
“I have always been in a caring role,” said Veronica, who was in respite care and disability services before having her own daughter. Veronica now has casual work every second weekend at a local hardware store, while Mat is a senior project engineer for the local energy supplier. In their busy schedules and with a brand new baby of their own, the couple were intrigued by a CareSouth advertisement they saw in the Canberra Times. After attending an information session, they applied straight away and have been foster parents for the last year.
“We are very busy but it is good chaos,” said Veronica. “Our boy attends cadets every Saturday, something he has always wanted to do but has never gotten the opportunity. We have picnics, go to the zoo, the markets and even attended the Anzac Day march in Canberra this year.”
“The girls were shy with us at first, but they have come to terms with their situation and are now moving forward and learning a lot of things,” said Veronica. “They are all a great influence on our own daughter who is far more advanced and articulate than she would have been with just Mat and me speaking to her.”
“CareSouth is fortunate to have carers the calibre of Mat and Veronica,” said Catherine Thurston, Manager of Foster for CareSouth’s Queanbeyan Office. “Their flexibility and commitment to the children in their care makes them a pleasure to work with,” she said.
Recalling some of their favourite memories as carers, Veronica and Mat said they have spent all year teaching the children how to ride bikes. “They are also in swimming lessons – another skill they never learned but we feel is important living near the coast,” said Veronica.
“It is really nice to see the children growing up properly,” they said. “There are heaps of good memories going on right now, and there are lots to come.”
“Mat and Veronica provide the children in their care with a safe and nurturing home and the opportunity to experience new life experiences, develop new skills, confidence and a sense of security,” said Ms Thurston. “They also give their children new, positive memories – foster carers like this can literally change a child’s life.”
For more information about CareSouth’s Foster Care services, please visit our website at www.caresouth.org.au. For specific information about becoming a CareSouth Foster Carer in a certain location, contact:
- Lisa Loveday, CareSouth’s Nowra Office: 02 4423 6833
- Chris Knowles, CareSouth’s Wollongong Office: 02 4225 7588
- Catherine, CareSouth’s Queanbeyan Office: 02 6299 1305
For more information about CareSouth’s foster care services, please visit our website atwww.caresouth.org.au. For specific information about becoming a foster carer, contact:
- Catherine, CareSouth’s Queanbeyan Office: 02 6299 1305
- Lisa Loveday, CareSouth's Nowra Office: 02 4423 6833
- Chris Knowles, CareSouth's Wollongong Office: 02 4225 7588