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Rockingham and Kwinana kids in limbo as need for foster carers grows

Vanessa SchmittWeekend Kwinana Courier

There are about 300 children and young people in care in the Rockingham district, 42 foster carer households and 56 family carer households.

The Department for Child Protection and Family Support’s Rockingham district director Julie Newsham said the department was looking for committed people from as far north as Hope Valley and as far south as Singleton willing to open their hearts and homes to care for children and young people in need.

An information session is planned in Rockingham for people to find out what it’s like to be a foster carer, and the support and training opportunities available to carers.

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“Foster carers are everyday people who like helping others, especially children, and are willing to care for them temporarily or permanently,” Ms Newsham said.

“They can be male or female, single or couples, same-sex relationships, with or without children of their own, working full or part-time, or retired.”

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The department is focusing its recruitment efforts on encouraging more Aboriginal people to become foster carers.

More than 50 per cent of children in care are Aboriginal, and the department strives to place them with their extended family, a member of their Aboriginal community or other Aboriginal carers whenever possible. When Aboriginal carers are not available children can be placed with other local foster carers.

“Every child deserves a permanent, safe, stable, and nurturing home, and for children in care this needs to occur at the earliest opportunity to help them overcome the trauma that many will have suffered,” Ms Newsham said.