When Deniliquin carers Barbara and Bill* were asked by CareSouth to take a young boy and girl into their home for emergency respite care they agreed without hesitation.

It was supposed to be a two night stay but a shortage of carers meant the short-term respite lasted nine months. In that time the Smiths were instrumental in reshaping the lives of the two foster children in their care – a young girl and boy who struggled to reach their milestones due to significant delays and medical issues.

“Our house has always been an open house, full of kids and family, so it made sense for us to welcome these two little ones into our home,” said Barbara.

“Every day we look back and think about them and the difference in them. Not that we set out to make a huge difference we didn’t really know what we were setting out to do. We just thought we were giving some little kids a bit of extra love and care and a home to sleep in and feel safe.”

Barbara said the children settled into their temporary home quickly and easily and overcame some significant hurdles.

“Just through establishing good habits and a good routine they can now run and play and start to develop friendships. It was pretty amazing,” said Barbara.

While running, playing and developing friendships might seem like simple milestones for children to achieve it took a lot of time, patience and love to get the children to that point according to Pru McManus, the manager of CareSouth’s Foster Care and Family Choices program in Deniliquin.

Ms McManus said while the couple may not have set out to change lives they were instrumental in helping the two children blossom.

“One of the best things we have seen with this placement is that the carers have given both children the time and intensive care that they needed,” said Ms McManus.

“The changes in these kids over that time has just been amazing. We have had so many people come to us and tell us how far these children have come. It is time intensive work but this family have gathered all the information and strategies they could to help these children who have been through so much. These respite carers are just brilliant.”

The two children, who are not siblings, have now transitioned to a long-term placement with CareSouth carers. Bill and Barbara continue to provide weekend respite.

“They are always going to be a part of our family,” said Barbara. “We are like their grandparents, they come to us on weekends and for holidays but they needed to find a long-term home so they felt they belonged somewhere.”

Ms McManus said it was important to find a placement where the pair could stay together “because the young boy is as protective of the little girl as a big brother would be”.

But she said this was no easy feat as the number of children entering the foster care system was increasing while the number of carers was in decline.

Latest statistics from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s (AIHW) annual child protection report, released in April, shows more than 40,000 Australian children are in foster care. More than half are from NSW alone, with NSW Government projections showing there will be 22,400 children and young people in Out-Of-Home-Care in NSW in 2016-17.

Ms McManus said the demand for Foster Carers across NSW was critical with a number of children being cared for in motels due to a shortage in available foster care placements.

If you can help and want more information about Foster Care or Respite Care please contact CareSouth on 1300 554 260

*Actual names have not been used