After seven years as an Anglicare Victoria West foster carer, Kim has often had the same conversation with friends and acquaintances, that foster caring was something they’d love to do – “one day”.
“My response is generally ‘what’s stopping you now?’ People don’t realise it’s really flexible,” Kim said.
“You have so much say in what placements you take and how long for. I didn’t start diving in the deep end taking a long-term placements. I started out doing respite and emergency care just doing what I did when I could.”
Anglicare Victoria, the state’s biggest provider of out-of-home care, in partnership with amazing foster carers like Kim and her partner Michael, 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.
Last year, Michael became an accredited foster carer too.
“It’s a rewarding journey to be on, being able to watch the kids grow and hit milestones. To see that growth is just amazing and to step back and see the positive impact we’ve been able to make on their lives,” Michael said.
Kim, who started foster caring at 26, added: “It’s given me a better perspective on life and really matured me as a person because you ride the highs and lows, like any parent. And you’re supported through that.”
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.
“There’s practical support like monthly respite care, and Anglicare Victoria’s 24-hour support phone line, but over the years there’s also been that network of other carers and community of foster care families we’ve grown a part of,” Kim said.
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.
“I’d say what you do need to be a foster carer is an open mind and empathy for a child’s situation that might be foreign to how you’ve grown up,” Kim said.
“If you can come without judgement and understand children come from all walks of life and welcome that, foster caring is for you.”
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.
