Foster Families

Victorian foster carer Maree Armitt says that welcoming children and young people in need into her home has been an incredible and humbling experience for the whole family, her teenage children in particular. It’s helped them develop a deeper appreciation for the safety and warmth of their own environment, and take in valuable lessons around helping others in need.

“The first thing I did when I decided to become a foster carer was to sit down with my husband and my 14 and 16-year-old to ask if that’s what they wanted to do. And they were even more keen on the idea than I was!” Maree said.

Maree and husband Gary became foster carers with Wesley Mission Victoria in 2008. They were involved with the Scouts and had been considering foster care for a long time before they signed up. Since then, they’ve had many children and young people through their doors, and currently care for three sisters aged nine to 16.

“One of my friends has been a foster carer for years, so I had a good insight into what was involved. I felt that I, and more importantly my family, was ready. We haven’t looked back – it’s just our way of life now.”

When Jenny Holden and husband Arthur retired, they felt they finally had time to give something back to the wider community. They also felt ready to care for kids in need, but wondered if they were too old.

“Turns out we weren’t!” says Jenny, who recently celebrated her 70th birthday. “We’ve discovered that if you love kids, and you want to help, then you’re never too old.”

Just over a year ago, Jenny and Arthur contacted Wesley Mission Victoria to find out if they could become foster carers. As they have young grandchildren, they wanted to focus on helping younger children and their families.

They started out providing emergency and short-term care for kids in crisis. So far, 18 children have stayed with ‘Jennma’ and ‘Grandad’ at their ‘holiday home’. Each has settled quickly and thrived in the warmth and security of two caring people and a daily routine.

Two young sisters, aged two and five, arrived nine months

ago as an emergency placement which is now turning into a longer term arrangement. A baby boy has also recently joined the family fold and is thriving.

With five adult children of their own and six grandchildren, some might say that Jenny and Arthur already have too full a schedule to welcome more children into their lives – but they feel they have a lot more to give. Jenny says that fostering has brought them so much joy and hope.

“It keeps us active and gives us something so positive to do each day and the simple changes are amazing. Our two foster girls had never eaten a meal at the table until they came to us. Now they sit up proudly and we enjoy dinner as a family.

“One of the girls hadn’t been cuddled or kissed before. Now you can’t stop her – she chases us down for literally hundreds of cuddles a day!

“Of course there are challenges and some days are hard. A few of the emergency placements we’ve had were difficult, because the kids were really traumatised and it took a while for them to settle and trust us. But little by little you see the changes, and their growing confidence is such a joy.”

Wesley Mission Victoria supports foster carers in the Eastern and Southern areas of Melbourne and, with a major shortage of carers happening across Victoria, is desperately appealing for more people to consider changing a life for the better.

The alarming lack of foster carers is not unique to Victoria – it’s an urgent problem that’s replicated across Australia, with all states and territories reporting shortages of these amazing volunteers.

In Victoria alone, there is a shortfall of more than 300 foster carers each year. In January, Wesley joined foster care agencies across Victoria to form Fostering Connections, to raise awareness of foster care and make it easier to find out more about becoming a carer.

Wesley’s Chief Executive Officer Paul Linossier says every child deserves the best possible start in life and encourages people to open their hearts and homes to children and young people who can’t live with their own families.

“We’re spreading the message that you don’t need to be a superhero to be a foster carer. Wesley’s own carers constantly tell us that it’s the small, ordinary things that make a huge difference in the life of a child or young person in need, like reading a bedtime story or giving lots of encouragement on daily milestones,” Mr Linossier said.

Jenny and Arthur chose to foster through Wesley because of the support and training available, and say their case workers have been excellent.

“They are wonderful people and I can call and get support and advice whenever I need it. Knowing there is a 24 hour out-of-hours hotline is very reassuring too – we’ve never had to use it but it’s great to know it’s there.”

The pair has also been able to develop strong relationships with some of their foster children’s immediate families and carers, helping to facilitate a positive experience for children who return home.

In one very special case, they were invited to become official ‘grandparents’ to a small baby who they cared for at six-weeks old. With the child now back in its mother’s care, the family was keen to keep ‘Jennma’ and ‘Grandad’ in their lives.

At Maree’s house, her children have embraced foster care, often bringing home friends who need a bit of extra support. Her son’s friend stays with the family every weekend and her daughter’s friend turned to Maree for help when she was looking for her first job.

“I have an open-door policy – my only rule is that you have to respect my family and that includes the young people staying with us, they are definitely part of our family. And as a result, on weekends I’m usually cooking for about 12 people. It’s very festive at dinnertime!”

Maree says she finds great reward in showing young people that they can achieve much more than what they’ve been told.

“If you’re only ever told that you can’t do something, then eventually you’re going to start to believe it. It’s amazing to see the positive responses when you encourage them, even in small things like cooking a meal, or participating in sport.”

“As a carer, life is continually full of love and laughter. Hugs come free to whoever needs them or if you just want to sit and talk about nothing important my ears are always open,” Maree said.

To find out more about foster care in your state please call:

NSW – 1800 236 783

VIC – 1800 013 088

SA – 1300 2 367 837

NT – 1800 814 599

TAS – 1800 732 522

WA – 1800 64 1911

QLD – 1300 550 877