Every day CareSouth staff see the unwavering commitment, love, respect and connection shown by our foster carers supporting children, young people and their families. It is heartwarming to see that recognised outside of our organisation in the recent My Forever Family Carer Recognition Awards.
Recently carers from the Eurobodalla were named Respite Carers of the Year and Illawarra carers Sibling Carers of the Year in the annual awards, celebrated during Foster and Kinship Care Week.
Shoalhaven carers Chelsea and Ali Anderson won the respite carers of the year award for supporting two emergency placements, first for a 16-year-old girl and then for two teenage sisters.
Chelsea and Ali became respite carers with CareSouth after moving to southern NSW from QLD four years ago. Before that Chelsea had been a carer for more than a decade.
Batemans Bay carer engagement caseworker Roz Matthews, who nominated the couple, describes them as “exceptional carers with intuitive and proactive care” who understand the challenges of supporting teenage girls.
“They describe what they do as Tapas parenting – a little bit of everything,” laughs Roz. “But no matter the kind of care they take on they are calm, compassionate and always roll with the punches. They have tough conversations when needed, and model a nurturing, caring and healthy home, focused on building positive relationships, even during challenging times.”
Chelsea says the pair were surprised to learn of their award.
“We didn’t think we were any more deserving of this award than other carers who are doing a wonderful job,” says Chelsea. “But we appreciate being acknowledged. We became foster carers because we both have a desire to help in the community. We both work full-time and it’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind of that. But kids bring such joy into our life. Getting to introduce them to new experiences and create memories with them is such a privilege.”
Roz says Chelsea and Ali also have a unique ability to foster relationships with the family members of those they support.
“They have maintained an ongoing relationship with the sisters’ current kinship carer and are often called on for advice and support,” says Roz. “Not only are Chelsea and Ali making an impact in the lives of the children they care for, but they are advocates in their local community for foster carers and have encouraged and supported future carers.”
Illawarra carers Chris and Donna Bell have been with CareSouth since 2008 and were named My Forever Family Sibling Carers of the Year. The couple, along with their extended family, are a great example of creating a village to raise a child. In their case, a sibling group of five.
“Chris and Donna made significant changes to their home to accommodate a large sibling group,” said Illawarra Carer Engagement caseworker Renee Virgo. “Throughout their foster carer journey, Chris and Donna have made every effort to understand the impact of childhood trauma and how best to support children’s growth and development.”
“We were over the moon when we heard we won,” says Donna, who became a foster carer with her husband Chris when her own children had grown up. “We did it because we just wanted to help others.
Donna, Chris and their extended family have created a safe, secure and loving home for the siblings, so much so that the kids don’t ever want to leave.
We were never expecting to get this many kids, but we got a sibling group and just went with it. They came to us when the youngest was one and a half. He’s 18 now. He and his older sister both say they will be at home until they’re 88.”
“We wanted to make sure we kept them together as a family and now they’ve become our family,” says Donna. “They’re all achieving what we hoped they would, and we have a very full house at Christmas time.”
Goulburn foster carers Jimi and Jesse Price were Runners Up in the Carer Recognition awards for the Deadly Ally of the Year category which recognises non-Aboriginal carers who make exceptional efforts to support an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child or young person in connecting with their Country, culture, and community.
Jimi and Jesse helped connect the young person they care for to his paternal family so they could explore his culture and country in more detail. The pair are carers under a special intensive therapeutic foster care model developed by Goulburn’s Regional Manager Lauren Holmes.
“Watching him grow and the love he shows towards us both is such an honour, and we feel so blessed as we have never had that experience personally,” says Jimi. “He has slotted into our life so perfectly and seamlessly, as if he has been with us forever.”
Those interested in becoming a foster carer are encouraged to contact CareSouth on 1300 554 260 or visit www.caresouth.org.au.
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