For long-time educators and newly-accredited Anglicare Victoria Southern foster carers Matthew and Jana Payne, becoming respite carers has been another way for them to make an impact in their community – outside of the classroom.
“As we say in education, ‘it takes a village to raise a child’, and respite care is about building that sense of community around children,” Matthew said.
“Our first placement was with a toddler, then an emergency placement for a few weeks with two sisters. It was a lot of fun and those weeks allowed us to really see the roller coaster of emotions that comes with foster caring and, as a family, see what it’s all about.”
Anglicare Victoria, the state’s biggest provider of out-of-home care, in partnership with amazing foster carers like the Payne family, are this Foster Care Week calling for Victorian households to consider opening their homes and their hearts to a child in need.
Fostering can take many forms from emergency and respite care, short-term placements, to ongoing care arrangements, and whether you’re married, single, older, younger, with or without kids, or in a same-sex relationship, working full time, renting or owning – everyone can make a positive difference in a child’s life.
The Payne’s three biological children, aged 12, 14 and 15, have welcomed their new roles as foster brothers and sisters with “open arms”.
“I probably get more out of it than them. I like learning from them, and just helping them play. It’s good to have an extra person in the house who’s not my brother and sister, who’s younger than me, that I can take care of,” 14-year-old Charlotte said.
Elise, 15, agreed.
“I have always loved, ever since I was a little girl, playing with dolls and watching Disney movies and stuff. I’ve really enjoyed going back to all that with the foster kids, because I get to go back and play with my old toys with them,” Elise said.
“You get a different perspective of things, it’s refreshing. It depends on your own kids and their personalities, but if they’re comfortable with the idea, I think fostering brings a new experience to the family. It just makes things fun.”
Last year, Anglicare Victoria oversaw foster care for nearly 800 children and young people and is proud to support about 1000 carers across the state annually.
While foster carers provide the day-to-day care of children, they form part of a care team that makes joint decisions regarding the care of the child, with Anglicare Victoria there to support carers every step of the way.
Mum Jana’s advice to households who had been considering foster care was simple: “Start with an information session.”
“It tells you about the kinds of children that you’ll meet. You’ll also get to meet some current foster carers, and it’s really handy to hear their perspective,” she said.
“Accreditation can be a long journey, but it’s important for it to take time. You’re dealing with the most vulnerable children in our society who need your love and protection.”
Can you provide a safe place for a child in need? Anglicare Victoria runs regular information sessions about all things to do with foster caring. Visit our website to find out when the next one is running near you.
