THIS Foster Care Week, September 14 - 20, Challenge Children’s Services is expressing their thanks and appreciation to foster carers living in the New England region for the essential role they play in children’s lives.
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Challenge Children’s Services has 68 foster carers in Tamworth and is committed to supporting carers through training, foster care retreats, 24/7 on-call staff, psychologist support, regular meetings and combined events, to ensure carers feel valued and supported in the role they play. Uralla foster carers Jacqueline and Stephen Weir commenced their fostering journey six years ago as respite carers. After providing respite for a short time, the opportunity arose for them to become full-time carers to four-year-old Blake*. Since then, Blake has become one of the family and, between the four dogs, rabbit and upcoming European holiday, the Weirs are busier than ever.
“We love being foster carers and encourage others to do what they can, when they can. We sometimes hear misconceptions about fostering, but our experience has been really positive. All children just need love and someone to trust,” Mrs Weir said.
In Tamworth, there is a constant need for carers and Challenge is encouraging members of the community to apply.
“Foster carers come in all shapes and sizes and from all backgrounds of life. People are often surprised to learn carers can be single, in a de facto relationship, unemployed, same sex, renting or retired,” Challenge general manager Stephen Doley said.
Challenge will host free foster care training, Shared Stories Shared Lives, on Saturday, October 11, and Sunday, October 12. This two-day course is designed to provide more information about becoming a foster carer, what is involved in taking on a foster child and preparing prospective carers for the role of fostering. To find out more, call Ashlee on 6760 0700 or visit www.challchildren.org.au
* Name changed for privacy reasons.