By Nicole Precel
FOR one Hobsons Bay family, their happiness comes from helping others.
Bonnie, a relief primary school teacher in her 40s, her partner, Rob, in his 50s, and their son Felix, 7, opted to help others over buying an expensive house, or owning a big screen TV.
“There’ve been lots of books and articles written about how to get happiness, how to be happy,” Bonnie said.
“There are people who are happy because they buy things, people who enjoy sport. I’m happy when I’m helping people.”
The family have been foster carers for about two years, have taken care of about half a dozen children and said they don’t see themselves stopping.
“The little ones we’ve cared for have ranged from two to about five,” she said.
Felix is used to having foster children at home.
“So he’s used to kids coming in and out, he’s used to waking up in the morning and having someone in his room,” she said.
Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare spokesman Josh Fergeus said Hobsons Bay only received three per cent of inquiries to become new carers in the North/West metropolitan region.
This is despite there being the highest demand for placements in the state, with over 30 per cent of foster care placements, numbering over 500.
Mr Fergeus said there was a “dire” need for carers, with over 1000 extra needed to prevent the system from collapsing.
“This would leave local children with nowhere to go,” he said. He said at least 300 carers were needed in the North/West region.
In Victoria, there are over 5500 children in Out of Home care, including 1500 in foster care.
But less than 975 foster carers are providing care for those 1500 children.
Bonnie said she received a lot of support from foster group Good Shepherd Youth and Family Services.
John Mitchell, Good Shepherd Youth and Family Service assessment co-ordinator, said the service offers training, 24-hour help line and foster carers can be flexible.
He said anyone could be a foster carer.
“Foster carers are ordinary people who do extraordinary things for children and their families,” he said.
“The difference they make to those kids’ lives is unbelievable.”
For information, call the Foster Care Hotline on 1800 013 088 or visit www.fosterabrighterfuture.com.au.
