Foster Care Week might be over for another year, but we wanted to share some of the event highlights at CareSouth, give another big shout-out to our amazing carers and answer some common questions about fostering that people might have.
Throughout Foster Care Week and beyond, in addition to our coffee cup awareness campaign, CareSouth hosted a range of community activities. Some were with other care agencies and community partners, some in our offices, to bring carers, young people and staff together for a day of fun activities. It was our way of celebrating and acknowledging the invaluable role foster carers play in the lives of vulnerable children and young people.
In the Illawarra, staff hosted a morning tea at our Berkeley office, along with an interagency fun day at Integral Energy Park. Our Shoalhaven carers attended a lunch at our newly built Jim McEwan Community Hub in Nowra; the food was a highlight, with a Persian Love cake served for dessert. There was also a Lucky Door prize including a small patchwork quilt handmade by local quilters.
“The carers who attended had a relaxing time and enjoyed the camaraderie of each other’s company,” said Carer Engagement and Support Team Leader Illawarra and Shoalhaven Karen Hooper. “One of CareSouth’s clinicians, Clare Ellerington also gave a presentation on ADHD.”
CareSouth’s Batemans Bay team travelled to local fun park Magic Mountain with carers and young people for a day of rides, thrills and spills, while the CareSouth Wagga Wagga team hosted a BBQ and family fun day at Wagga Botanical Gardens
Staff at CareSouth’s Deniliquin office work across such a broad geographic footprint that they held family fun days in both Deniliquin and Tocumwal. Due to extreme wet weather, the Deniliquin event was moved from the park to the multipurpose centre with around 40 people attending.
Griffith’s Kick, Bounce and Skate with Mates fun day was unfortunately also postponed due to flood warnings in the Riverina (all thanks to La Nina!). The event will now be held during the summer school holidays.
Goulburn staff hosted a family fun day at Goulburn’s PCYC and more than 60 people attended from various local agencies, including CareSouth, Marymead, Department of Communities and Justice, Aboriginal Medical Services and Life Without Barriers.
“I would like to thank everyone who participated in the Foster Care Week events across our footprint,” said Carer Engagement & Support team leader Rebecca Crosby.
“The Goulburn Foster Care Week event was such a great success. It was a pleasure to see carers, agency staff, children and families having fun and networking. We were thrilled to be able to celebrate our foster carers and their families, and I would like to thank all the helping hands and participants. You are appreciated.”
Foster care can be daunting but is more so rewarding. If you or anyone you know has any questions about fostering, click on the links below to find the answers to some FAQs.
Part 1: What to expect when becoming a foster carer
Part 2: What to expect when becoming a foster carer (more FAQs)
CareSouth Ltd ABN 97 065 193 035
