Victoria is in urgent need of caring individuals to step up and make a difference in the lives of its most vulnerable children, including those in Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay.
New foster carers are urgently needed to support the state’s most vulnerable children.
Victoria’s state-wide foster care recruitment service Fostering Connections is calling for people to take the first step to being a foster carer during Foster Care Week, which runs from 10 – 16 September.
On an average night, 1,500 children and young people are in foster care in Victoria.
Fostering Connections, the state-wide foster care recruitment service run through The Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare is asking people to make the call and take the first step during Foster Care Week to learn more about these incredibly rewarding roles.
The need for new foster carers is ongoing and urgent, with more than 1,500 children staying in foster care homes across Victoria each night. The roles of foster carers vary, from providing emergency overnight shelter to weekend respite care and short- and long-term arrangements.
The Centre chief executive Deb Tsorbaris encourages people who have considered becoming a foster carer to make a call and find out more.
“There are so many ways that foster carers support these vulnerable children and young people, from simple overnight stays, to respite care on weekends, and short- and longer-term placements, and our incredible foster care agencies are out there in the communities to help and support carers,” she said.
Recent findings from Fostering Connections’ market research underscored strong community support for foster caring, with 80 per cent of Victorians saying they believe the community should provide support for children who can’t live with their families.
“Despite cost-of-living difficulties, Victorians have shown they are sympathetic to the plight of children and young people. We know it’s tough out there, and it’s even tougher for some families, which means new carers are needed more than ever.
“Victorians showed during Covid that we can come together as a community and support each other. Even though these are tough times, these vulnerable kids need the support and care of their communities.”
Foster Care Week, which begins on Sunday 10 September, is an opportunity to celebrate the vital role that foster carers play in ensuring that every child in Victoria has a loving home during times when they’re unable to live with their family.
