This week is Foster and Kinship Carer Week (10-16 September), which aims to celebrate the vital role that foster carers and kinship carers play in the child protection system.
The Department for Child Protection and the foster care agencies it partners with, will be hosting events across the state to thank our carers for the love and care they give to children and young people.
There are about 1720 kinship care families and 1010 foster care families with a placement throughout South Australia and there continues to be a need for more carers.
Listeners interested in learning more about foster care can call 1300 2 FOSTER (1300 2 367 837) or visit www.fostercare.sa.gov.au
In this segment, we hear from Simone Mather, State Director of Life Without Barriers, which runs services in foster care, disability support and other areas. She has extensive experience in family support and mental health support for children and adolescents. Deb Bills, Life Without Barriers foster carer since 2014 and is also a carer ambassador, speaking publicly about her experience in the role, and works as a Home Hub provider in Life Without Barriers’ MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™ program.