CareSouth’s Out-Of-Home care programs in Deniliquin, Griffith and Wagga provide safe, nurturing environments for over 75 children and young people.

Late last month the Department of Family and Community Services (FACS) put out a call for at least 65 new foster carers who are urgently needed in Western NSW after a 373 per cent rise in the number of children taken into care across the past two decades.

CareSouth CEO Deb Tozer said CareSouth’s dedicated staff and carers in the Western region Murrumbidgee are helping to fill that need by responding and recruiting carers in all three of our areas of operation. We have recently recruited specifically for two children in Deniliquin and have successfully placed the pair in permanent foster care homes.

FACS Western NSW executive district director Jo Lawrence said last year about 300 children entered Out-of-Home Care in Western NSW because they were unable to stay with their families.

“We urgently need local families and individuals to put up their hand and say ‘I can help a little one’ because these children deserve to feel special and worthy and loved,” Ms Lawrence said.

Western NSW Community Services director Sharryn Wheeler said it was vital that children who are placed in care remain in their own community. She said that without more local carers the children would have to be moved away.
“Sadly it results in children leaving their community. They lose their friends, their family and the support network. Keeping that network is essential,” said Ms Wheeler.
Tracy Mayo, CareSouth’s Regional Manager Southern Tablelands and Western NSW, said CareSouth are committed to strengthening the capacity of the sector and community to support children and young people.

“We have recently increased our infrastructure to have two full time positions recruiting, assessing and training foster carers,” said Ms Mayo.

“This is an important part of providing sustainable, safe homes for children. Our caseworkers work alongside the carers in an inclusive manner, support natural family and significant people in children’s lives to remain connected.”

If you would like more information about becoming a CareSouth foster carer in our Western Region please contact CareSouth’s Darren Mitchell in Deniliquin on (03) 5881 8360 or Alana Rossiter in Griffith on (02) 6962 5483.