A landmark, statewide campaign launched late last year is urging people across New South Waled to change a child’s life by becoming a foster carer.
Presently, there are more than 300 children and young people aged one to 17 who need foster carers to provide them a safe and loving home.
Foster carers play a vital role in the child protection system. The provide stable and loving homes for children who cannot live safely with their family.
The need for foster care is acute for children with disability, adolescents and sibling groups, who often wait the longest for a foster carer.
Minister for Families and Communities, Kate Washington, said children don’t get a second chance at childhood.
“It’s time for some myth-busting foster care facts – you can be single, in a same-sex relationship, retired, rent or own your own home, kids just need people who care,” she said.
Fostering isn’t just long-term, we need short term, respite, emergency, and restoration carers, too.”
Currently, there are 37 sibling groups in New South Wales who need foster carers, many with children aged five and under.
The campaign has been rolled out across social media, television and print, and will reach communities at major and local events.
Research shows while many people would consider fostering, they remain hesitant due to misconceptions about their eligibility and the time required to foster a child.
The campaign plans to bust these myths, showing that people can foster if they’re single, retired, in a same-sex relationship, have kids of their own, rent or work full time.
The campaign uses foster stories to show the many ways carers can make a difference to a child’s life. While this can be long-term care, people who foster for a few days or weeks are incredibly important to support children and long-term carers.
The campaign also highlights restoration carers, who support a child to return safely to their families.
Secretary of the Department of Communities and Justice, Michael Tidball, said foster carers are at the heart of efforts to protect and nurture children who need stability.
“This campaign is about breaking down the myths and barriers that prevent people from volunteering,” he said.
“We need carers for sibling groups, children with disability, and adolescents – and we need people from all backgrounds.
“Our message is simple: if you have the capacity to care, you have the capacity to change a life.
“DCJ is focused on better training, more support, and a stronger system so foster carers can focus on what matters most – the children and young people in their care,” he said.
CEO of Carers for Kids NSW, Renee Leigh is pleased to support the NSW Government’s foster care recruitment drive.
“Carers for Kids NSW supports foster carers, operating a dedicated support line and providing expert advice, resources, and training,” Ms Leigh said.
“We are funded to support all types of carers with the skills and knowledge they need, so the children and young people in their home grow up with the safety, stability, and connection they deserve.”
For more information about becoming a foster carer, visit Become a Foster Carer or call 1300 770 240 Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.
All well and good, but how about put the majority of that 1.2b into prevention and restoration of children back into the care of their parents and make a position for an independent overseeing body that can legally charge case workers for false and misleading statements in court that somehow becomes legal in the lower Children’s Court.