Foster carers in central Victoria have become the first in the state to benefit from a ready-made social support system that creates a ‘care community’ around the children who have been placed in their care.
“We’ve just welcomed a foster care child into our home who has complex medical needs. It’s fantastic to have access to other local carers who we can rely on during the transition. We’ve also recently done a weekend respite placement with another foster child in our constellation, which went really well.” – Merryn Wilson, Mockingbird Family foster care
Mockingbird Family is an evidence-informed model, which has had great success in New South Wales, South Australia and internationally. It creates a ‘constellation’ of six to ten local foster carer households that work together, supporting one another just like a traditional extended family. Research has shown that this approach helps to provide relief for foster carers, meaning children and young people end up staying in the same home for longer – something which is very important for those who have experienced so much disruption to their lives.
Anglicare Victoria, in partnership with Life Without Barriers, has begun trialling the innovative approach to caring in Bendigo, to further strengthen the sense of community among existing foster carers.
Michael Oerlemans, Regional Director of Anglicare Victoria North Central, said he hopes the ready-made network available to carers through the Mockingbird Family model will lead to an increase in the stability and longevity of foster care placements.
“High numbers of children have entered care over the past two years. As an organisation, we needed to find new ways to look after both children and carers. We’re excited to see the impact Mockingbird Family will have in our region.” –Michael Oerlemans, Regional Director, North Central
Merryn Wilson, Bendigo-based foster carer with Anglicare Victoria, said that when Mockingbird Family was offered to her, she “got goose bumps.”
“My mind has exploded with the possibilities that Mockingbird Family could bring to kids and families if it becomes available in more regions across Victoria. It’s a real game changer,” she said.
The 2022 Annual report can be found on our website.
To request a hard copy of this report, call us on 1800 809 722.
