Foster families open their hearts and homes to our most vulnerable children
Every child has the right to feel safe, happy and loved, to be protected, educated and cared for. Unfortunately, more than 7000 children across Queensland cannot live safely at home because one or both of their parents have abused or neglected them. These children are the most vulnerable in our society. Foster and kinship carers are everyday people from all walks of life who open their homes and hearts to these children to give them the chance of a safe and happy future. Kinship care is provided by a person who is a relative, considered to be family or a close friend, or is a member of the child or young person's community.
Kinship carers can assist children and young people to maintain connections with their family. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, a kinship carer may be another Indigenous person who is a member of their community, a compatible community or from the same language group.
The care provided can be for one or two nights, a few months or even years. Where appropriate, children are reunited with their families as soon as possible.
Children coming into care are of different ages, cultural and religious backgrounds.
Many children and young people in care have significant learning difficulties and are behind in their educational achievement due to their history of abuse and neglect. For some children, the level of trauma they have experienced can contribute to emotional or behavioural difficulties.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people are significantly over-represented in the child protection system – 31.5 per cent of all children and young people subject to protective orders are Indigenous, about six times the rate of their non-Indigenous counterparts. Foster and kinship carers are needed to care for sibling groups, teenagers, babies, children and young people living in rural and remote Queensland and children with special care needs. More Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander foster carers, as well as carers from other ethnic backgrounds, are needed throughout Queensland.
Trish Loveday and Cath Watts, of Townsville, are among Queensland's most outstanding foster carers. Ms Loveday has been a carer for about 15 years and Ms Watts for nine years. In this time they have provided safe and loving homes for more than 90 children.
The two women currently care for three siblings with high needs, including learning difficulties, autism, low self-esteem and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
"It's just good to know that the kids have a safe place to live. It works well because we have good partnerships with state government and other agencies which make all the difference," Ms Watts says.
Maryborough couple Glenda Pfrunder and Clint Marstella have opened their home and hearts to more than 50 children over seven years. The couple also encourage and support their foster children in their sporting and educational activities. One of their foster children will compete in the world BMX championships in July in Adelaide. Another foster child has obtained an OP score and plans to go to university.
"We thought we could help give some of these children a better life and see them happy"
"We thought we could help give some of these children a better life and see them happy. We have always been one big happy family. They are all good kids," Ms Pfrunder says.
In Innisfail, Tod and Petra Bathe currently provide a safe home for two young children with DiGeorge syndrome, a rare congenital disorder that requires constant medical attention, including heart surgery.
Mr and Mrs Bathe, who run their own construction company, have cared for almost 40 children over eight years. They became foster carers because they wanted to bring some joy into the lives of vulnerable children.
"We do it purely and simply for the kids. We get satisfaction if they get a bit of happiness. And, perhaps, down the road in their lives, they may think… yes, I remember that," Mrs Bathe says.
The dedication of foster and kinship carers across Queensland was officially acknowledged in March with the Foster and Kinship Carer Excellence Awards which were presented to seven winners at a ceremony at Parliament House in Brisbane.
By law, all foster and kinship carers and their adult household members are required to hold a blue card issued by the Commission for Children and Young People and Child guardian (CCYPCG) which indicates that a person is eligible to work with children and young people in Queensland.
The CCYPCG conducts a national check of a person's criminal history, including any disciplinary information held by professional organisations. It also includes police investigation information into allegations of serious child related sexual offences. Child Safety Services undertakes criminal history checks for all carer applicants.
Carer applicants are required to undergo an assessment as to their suitability to provide care for children. A household safety study is also completed.
Foster carer applicants are also required to undergo preservice training before approval.
For more information about becoming a foster or kinship carer visit www.childsafety.qld.gov.au or call 1300 550 877.