Give them a chance. That’s the word from Hoppers Crossing foster carer Kerry Post, who has looked after 48 children in her 11 years in the role.
Mrs Post said many people were scared to become carers because they fear they’ll be taking on difficult children. The reality, she says, couldn’t be further from the truth.
“People think kids come in because they’ve got major issues. The kids don’t, it’s their families.
“The kids are great … to go from family to family and they’ve got no idea what they’re walking into, and they’re all really, really well-adjusted kids.
“They just need a chance, and a place to stay for a month or two or six before they can reunite with family.”
Mrs Post and her husband, who have two children of their own, signed up to be foster carers when they saw an advertisment at their daughter’s primary school.
“We had the room and I’ve always worked school hours for my kids so I’m there for them in the morning and afternoon, so why not?”
The family has had two of her son’s friends with them for the past 18 months, and still take on emergency and respite cases.
Sharon Tyrrell from Uniting Wyndham said as the population across the western suburbs has exploded, so has the need for foster care.
“It is really important to do everything we can to place children and young people in the community where they live.
“That’s where their friends are, where they go to school or kinder, and where they take part in activities like sport that can be crucial to helping them deal with their family issues.”
Details: vt.uniting.org/fostercare
