More than 18,000 children in NSW are in out-of-home care; a population that rose by 23.9 per cent between 2008 and 2012. 

Kate Flannery is the manager for foster care recruitment and retention for the Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies (ACWA). ACWA is the peak body for NGO out-of-home care agencies throughout NSW.

Ms Flannery said numbers have risen for a variety of reasons.

She said there was a big investment into early intervention; often a successful strategy to support families in crisis before a child is removed from the home. If they are removed, a revised approach toward home care puts more children in the system.

“Family-based carers are now believed to be to be far superior,” Ms Flannery said.

Economic disadvantage, substance abuse and domestic violence are pressures contributing to children in the system. 

“They’re not issues that are going away in a society, and that has flow-on effects for how people are able to parent their kids,” Ms Flannery said.

Lisa Harvey is the Inverell-based manager for non-placement support service with Pathfinders. She said need for foster care in the area was significant.

“There is quite a need. {The Department of Community Services} are going out of foster care altogether. They’re hoping to phase out that side of things so they can concentrate on child protections,” Ms Harvey said.

The current transition of foster from the NSW Government to non-government organisations (NGO) means more opportunities are opening up for potential carers.  

The transitional process began in 2012 and should be complete by 2017.

Ms Harvey said Pathfinders was establishing an agency in Inverell through their Pathways program and that she assisted the foster care manager in the effort.

Ms Harvey said they planned to have an educational session in November for people wanting more information on becoming a carer.

“We’re certainly looking at long-term care, temporary care, respite care. Another one we’re focusing on is we’re looking at getting a couple of ISS placements which is (very) intensive support which is the children that are higher needs than the majority of children that are in care,” Ms Harvey said.

Aboriginal out-of-home care agency Walanbaa Gaayili is another agency in Inverell recruiting, aiming to build a strong carer pool in the Aboriginal community.

Walanbaa Gaayili falls within the Biripi Aboriginal Corporation. Anthony Paulson is Biripi’s acting manager.  

“We’re always looking to recruit Aboriginal carers for our Aboriginal children. It keeps the connection and culture strong and keeps them on country,” Mr Paulson said.

Foundations Care begun operating in the New England in February 2013 and the Armidale Foundations Care office was officially opened on October 9 2013. 

Foundations Care NSW Service Manager Wendy Knight said: “The children and young people who are in care and those who are just entering out of home care come from a range of backgrounds, and as such, Foundations Care are always looking for carers from a diverse variety of backgrounds and environment to better enable us to match carers with children and young people. 

“This gives the best possible chance of placements succeeding and achieving positive outcomes for children and young people,” Ms Knight said. With families and individuals stressed by economics, time-poverty and societal shifts, the face of the new foster family has changed. 

Full-time working couples or single parents, same-sex couples, young adults, those who rent and older individuals all fit the profile of the contemporary carer.

Placing Aboriginal and other culturally diverse children with culturally appropriate carers and kin is also a priority for agencies.

“I think agencies are realising that there’s a lot of groups out there they haven’t traditionally approached before who do make great carers,” Ms Flannery said.

Ms Flannery acknowledged fostering is a big commitment, but the modern foster care system offers flexible options.

“It’s really trying to find the type of care that’s going to suit the care system that you can provide. It needs a range of different care types by a range of different people,” Ms Flannery said.

Ms Flannery explained: “For some people, they can also assist by providing really important respite that foster carers need. You’d be providing care on the weekends, or during school holidays to give those full-time carers a break.”

Training, up-skilling and support for carers is an essential part of out-of-home care agencies.

“Retaining and supporting current foster care pools really helps to keep them in the system,” Ms Flannery said.

She stressed that the carer is not alone. Agencies are part of the support for the child and the carer.

“You’ll be supported with casework support. A lot of agencies or regions have carer support groups as well,” she said.

“We really try to emphasize that with our recruitment campaign that you’re not just on your own with that child.” 

If you have an interest in learning about becoming a foster carer in the Inverell area, the following agencies work with local children and carers: Foundations: 6707 1000 or www.foundcarekids.org.au; Pathways: Ms Lisa Harvey, 0458 224 810 or 6721 3528; Walanbaa Gaayili Aboriginal Out-of-Home Care Service: Lyn Cullinane 6721 1600.