Foster carer shortage

by Anna Kinney, 7 April 2011

Foster carers have always been in short supply in WA as many people don't consider themselves eligible or able to do the job, says foster carer Jude Fariss.

“People often think they are too old or because they're single or unqualified they can't do it.

“They don’t realise that you can still work full time. Many people qualify and they just don’t realise I,” she said.

Ms Fariss, who works 30 hours a week as a registered nurse, has fostered around 50 children over the last four years.

“I got into fostering while considering doing nursing aid work with children in Ethiopia. Then I realised there were children in my own community who needed care as well.”

Ms Fariss, who is on the board of the Foster Care Association of WA, said carers have constant support available to them, and are provided with all the training and resources they need.

Alex Mackenzie, a Family Support Worker, said that support workers are available to provide emotional and practical assistance at all times.

"Each carer has a Family Support Worker allocated to them, so if they are going through a tough time they always have someone talk to,” she said.

“Fostering is often a difficult and emotional task, as parting with a child you have a significant attachment to and have invested so much of yourself into is so hard.

“However, knowing that you have made a difference in a child’s life, even if they have only stayed with you overnight, makes it all worth it,” she said.

Western Australia has over 2570 children in Foster Care and the figures are rising every year, according to the Department of Child Protection’s latest report.

Fostering seeks to provide care to children who are removed from their homes due to cases of neglect and physical, sexual and emotional abuse.

To become a foster carer you must be over 21, physically, emotionally and financially stable, and be able to provide adequate living arrangements for the child.

Foster carers are people who are able to share their love and compassion to a child needing care by welcoming them into their home and heart.

Ms Fariss said that anyone considering fostering should “seek counsel from the fostering networks, go to the information nights, and talk it over with your family as it involves them too”.