WHILE it took some convincing, Albion Park’s Helen Smith is glad she took the plunge and decided to become a foster carer.
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Mrs Smith’s sister had been trying to convince her to give it a go for a number of years, and after some changes to her family life, Mrs Smith and her family decided the time was right.
“My sister is a foster carer and she spent six years encouraging us to do it, I seriously thought about it for three years but was concerned for my youngest son, that it would cause too much upheaval in his life,” Mrs Smith said.
“Finally my husband Peter was off work due to a hip injury and he suggested we just start while he was having time off.”
Despite some early difficulties, the Smiths have been caring for Abbey* through the William Campbell Foundation for the past three years and have learned a lot from the process.
“It has been a journey, being a foster carer has its valleys but it does have its high points as well.
“Initially we cared for two sisters and the first year was tough, they came full of fear and anxiety but slowly one of the girls settled.
“In the end William Campbell Foundation decided that her younger sister needed to live with another carer, apparently not all siblings do well under the same roof.
“Abbey settled well and wanted to stay with us, she has been with us for nearly three years and it is wonderful to see how she has blossomed.
“Being a foster carer has taught me a lot of patience, I’ve learnt not to take anything personally and not to react, they have been hard skills to learn but they are skills that are helpful in all of your relationships.”
The William Campbell Foundation is currently on the lookout for foster and respite carers for children aged 0-18.
“We currently need long term and short term carers for a number of children,” William Campbell Foundation recruitment manager Ngaere Rayner said.
“Respite carers give a child’s main foster carers or family a short break, each family’s needs vary but often respite is a weekend once a month and a week of school holidays.
“Respite foster carers are an integral part of our foster care team and receive the same training and support as our long term foster carers.”
The William Campbell Foundation is holding a free foster care information session at 5.30pm at the Dapto Ribbonwood Centre on Thursday, October 30.
To register for the session or for more information about becoming a foster carer call 1300 130 585 or visit wcfoundation.org.au.
