Amy, her husband Nathaniel, and their two young children have welcomed respite, emergency and short-term foster care placements into their home for the past 18 months. As a casual relief teacher, Amy knows teachers and education professionals have the skillset to provide the loving structure kids in care need to thrive.
As students return to the classroom this year Anglicare Victoria, the state’s largest provider of foster care, alongside carers like Amy, are encouraging families and education professionals to consider opening their home to a child in need – and consider just how much it could enrich their lives.
Why did you become a foster carer?
“From when I was younger, I’d always thought I’d want to be a foster carer. Getting married and having my own family only solidified that idea as I had a deeper compassion for how hard it is to be a parent and maintained the belief that all children deserve the chance to have a loving and stable environment in which to grow and flourish. I felt that we had the capacity to provide a safe home and a heart to care for others.”
How did your experience in education influence your decision to become a carer – if at all?
“Most people who want to work in education already have a passion for children’s welfare, enthusiasm to make a positive impact and gain purpose from teaching and learning. Skills and knowledge I’ve learnt in the field have assisted me on our fostering journey and my teaching experience has given me the confidence to know I’d be a capable foster carer.”
What support do you receive?
“We have had great support from Anglicare Victoria. There’s many resources available for foster carers, like the Carers Share Centre, workshops with professionals, extra training and support groups, social events and case managers and staff always available to assist.”
What do you find challenging about being a foster carer?
“One of the biggest challenges for me is dealing with the uncertainty that can come with being a carer. As a carer, you can be at the mercy of the system and have to be flexible with what is thrown your way. For example, you might agree to take on a child for six months but circumstances can change and they may stay a week. Having a new person integrate into your family is always going to be an adjustment and it can be hard to meet everyone’s needs. Foster children can often present with trauma, complex needs and challenging behaviour. It has taught me to be more patient, empathetic and compassionate.”
How do your biological children go with foster siblings?
“We have two biological children aged three and five who have really embraced fostering. They think it’s like having a friend over to play with and are always excited to meet them. We currently have foster child, a baby, who has been with us for seven months and it has been rewarding to watch my children develop a bond and take him under their wing. Foster children can take up a lot of attention and time so we make a point of having ‘special time’ with our kids to make sure they are feeling connected and loved.”
What are the common misconceptions you often hear about foster care?
“I think people often don’t know that there are different types of fostering available and that you can choose what is suited to you and your family. You may not have the capacity to take on a child long-term but maybe emergency or respite care would be better suited.
Another misconception is that you have to ‘have it all together’. You don’t need to be a homeowner, married, wealthy etcetera. Carers can come from all walks of life and each has something valuable to offer. When we started fostering, we lived in a rental and had two toddlers but we decided to embrace the chaos!”
What would you say to a teacher or education professional considering exploring foster care?
“I would say that fostering is a very challenging but rewarding thing to do. There are many skills that are transferrable from the classroom to fostering such as behaviour management, organisation, child safety knowledge, resilience, communication and patience. The goal of an education professional and a foster carer is ultimately the same (minus the curriculum, reporting and yard duty!); to nurture children, celebrate their uniqueness and create an environment where they feel safe and loved.”
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. See here to find out when the next is running near you.
