EVER thought of becoming a foster carer?
Foster care agency MacKillop Family Services is seeking more foster carers to open their hearts and homes to some of the state’s most vulnerable children, particularly in The Hills/Blacktown and Hawkesbury areas.
‘‘That’s where we have the biggest need,’’ the service’s communications coordinator, Louise Carson, told Fairfax Media.
The Blacktown-based service helps find suitable homes for children in The Hills, Blacktown, Parramatta, Penrith and Blue Mountains local government areas.
‘‘More than 60 children and young people are entering care every week across NSW,’’ Ms Carson said.
‘‘MacKillop Family Services supports about 40 children in care and about 50-odd foster carers — it was about 28 children the previous year.
‘‘There is always a need for carers of older children and teenagers.
‘‘A stable home is a real gift you can give someone that age, to help them become who they want to be.’’
Ms Carson said the service had experienced a recent decline in carer numbers.
She attributed this to ‘‘people ageing out’’, the cost of living in Sydney and people being ‘‘a bit more time-poor’’.
She said empty-nesters make good carers, as their kids have grown up and they still have space in the family home.
Single people are also increasingly becoming carers.
Ms Carson said about 19,000 children are in foster care statewide and 45,000 are in care nationally.
MacKillop’s general manager NSW Services said all types of carers were needed — respite, immediate, short and long-term.
“We need people who have the patience, resilience and understanding to support children and young people who may not have had the best start in life,’’ she said.
■ Details: http://mackillop.org.au/fostercare or email louise.carson@mackillop.org.au.
