It’s 1am on a Tuesday morning. The phone rings, waking Nadine with a start.
It’s Sonya, an Anglicare Victoria Foster Care Case Worker. Sonya has been in close contact with her for the past few weeks and has mentioned that she could be called on at any time to help a vulnerable child in need. Sonya says that 10 year old Ben needs a safe place to stay and will be arriving within the hour.
Nadine is eager to help and has been ready to care for a foster child for months, having been through the ‘Shared Stories, Shared Lives’ foster carer training and other informative Anglicare Victoria foster care workshops. She is excited and prepared, yet slightly nervous to begin her new caring journey.
She knows that kids like Ben may move around to many different foster families and in the case of respite carers, placements can last as little as one night. Nadine expects Ben will be feeling quite scared to be arriving at another new home in the middle of the night – it must be terrifying to move around, not knowing where you will sleep and who will care for you.
Nadine ensures the spare room is ready, with the heater on and the bed made with her favourite childhood teddy bear propped against the pillow… ready to welcome Ben and hopefully, put him at ease in these new surroundings. She is unsure how long Ben will stay, but is determined to make him feel welcome and loved, even if it is only for a few nights.
Ben soon arrives with Sonya. He looks extremely tired and nervous. His one possession is a small bag filled with a few belongings, including his favourite football. Nadine greets Ben and reassures him that he is safe and that everything will be okay. She asks him if he would like a hot chocolate, however he just looks away and does not respond. Ben wants this night to be over so he can go back to his family. Each night, he hopes that tomorrow will be the day he goes home. He misses his Mum.
