By YASEMIN TALAT
BACK to school next week can be an exciting time for most children but also a little frightening for others.
It’s a new year, new grade, perhaps a new school and new friends and for some children 2014 could even mean a new family.
Anglicare Victoria this week is reminding communities about the children in care who seek the love and support of a family during this emotional time of the year.
Anglicare Victoria’s Volunteer Recruitment and Support Worker Jessica Rapa said this could be a positively traumatic time for children who have been removed from their parents.
“Children in care are some of the most vulnerable in the community,” Ms Rapa said.
“For many children in care, a new school year may mean a new family, new friends and a completely new life,” she said.
“They move school often and they are usually behind academically, so they are always feeling like the ‘new kid’.”
Ms Rapa said even the children who were far behind could easily catch up with their peers and thrive emotionally with the right support and stability.
“That’s what foster carers do,” she said.
“They provide a supportive, secure and safe environment to come home to at the end of the school day.”
Anglicare Victoria is currently looking for foster carers to join the Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong and Wyndham teams.
Anyone over 21 years of age who can offer a child in need a secure, loving home is eligible to be a carer.
Carers can be single, de facto or married, with or without their own children.
All prospective carers must pass required checks, attend training and undergo an accreditation process.
Anglicare Victoria’s foster carers receive 24-hour on-call support, ongoing training and social events, and a tax-free reimbursement.
An information session will be held on Thursday 30 January in Yarraville.
For more information contact Jessica on 9396 7400 or jessica.rapa@angliecare.org.au
