This Foster Care Week, 10-16 September 2017, we’ve enjoyed celebrating the crucial role of foster carers in making a positive difference to the lives of vulnerable children and young people in our community.

Thank you for being a part of our journey this week, we hope you have been inspired by the heart-warming carer and staff stories we have shared with you. To read more, visit our blog page at caresouth.org.au or use the link below.

CareSouth has also partnered again this year in local activities across NSW to honour and raise awareness of the important contribution made by foster carers.

Our week kicked off with the annual Foster Care Week Picnic in the Illawarra. Around 200 foster carers from a range of agencies this year enjoyed fun family activities including a jumping castle, bubble soccer, pamper tent, raffles, food and more! 

We held morning teas throughout the week in Deniliquin and Griffith through our carer support groups. Our Shoalhaven team held a lunch for our carers on the Wednesday. In Goulburn, the annual interagency Foster Care Week Picnic with lots of family fun activities organised by Kids in Care Support Inc takes place this weekend. 

And the week concludes with The Kids in Care Cup, an annual Aboriginal Rugby League knockout competition held in Wollongong in September to raise awareness of what fostering is all about and the need for more Aboriginal carers across NSW. For the last three years, this event has attracted around 3,000 spectators to watch around 20 Aboriginal men’s, women’s and children’s footy teams from all over NSW vie for the coveted title.

NSW needs to attract around 660 new carers in the coming year across all types of care: emergency, respite and short term carers able to support restoration of children to their birth families, carers wishing to progress to guardianship or open adoption, Aboriginal and multicultural carers.

Almost anyone can become a foster carer. Our foster carers are young couples, same sex couples, single people, have children of their own, have jobs or are retired. What matters is that you can provide a stable caring family environment for a child or young person. We provide ongoing support and training.

If you are able to help or would like more information please call 1300 554 260 or visit CareSouth.org.au