Families in the Nyngan area are encouraged to consider sharing their lives with a child or young person who is unable to live safely at home.
NSW Department of Community Services (DoCS) regional director Western Glynis Ingram said there was always a need for foster carers in Nyngan.
“Being a foster carer
doesn’t necessarily involve a lifelong commitment. There are opportunities to care for children in the short-term as well as providing respite care to give other foster carers a break once in a while,” Ms Ingram said.
“Foster carers come from a range of backgrounds and age groups - some are single, others are in a relationship, some have children of their own and others not.
“You don’t need a big house or big income to be a foster carer, only a big heart and some time to give children the encouragement and attention they need.
“What matters most is that carers are able to provide a loving and stable environment for the kids in their care.”
Ms Ingram said children entering foster care are often confused, lonely and frightened and need a supportive and safe home to restore their confidence and self-worth.
“Foster carers act as their guide, helping children in care to stay connected to their family, friends, school and community,” Ms Ingram said.
People interested in learning about foster care are invited to attend training sessions in Nyngan on Saturday May 3 and Sunday May 4.
The sessions are based on the training package, Shared Stories, Shared Lives, which gives prospective carers realistic information about fostering.
The package is also designed to help carers understand how children’s life experiences affect their behaviour and abilities.
DoCS provides foster carers with training and support, access to a range of professional services and pays a generous allowance to help meet the cost of raising a child.
DoCS standard payments for foster carers are among the most generous in Australia. The allowance for looking after young people aged 14-17 is $580 per fortnight and for children aged 5-13 years, the allowance is $432 a fortnight.
To find out more about foster care in Nyngan, please call Doug James on 02 6341 1855 or 0428 685 275.
You can also call DoCS Foster Care Recruitment Line on 1800 011 110, between 7am to 10pm, seven days a week or visit www.community.nsw.gov.au