Call for more carers

FREMANTLE residents are being urged to consider helping children in need through foster caring in a new campaign run by care provider MercyCare.

The campaign is aimed at creating awareness of the need to foster and providing more information for people considering taking up the call as a general or specialist foster carer, with MercyCare currently managing 56 foster care placements for children aged 0-18.

General foster carers provide help for children not staying with their own families for a period of time due to difficulties, while specialist foster carers help those who have experienced significant issues or who may have behavioural issues.

MercyCare chief executive Chris Hall said he believed there were a number of individuals who would make good foster carers.

‘The Perth community includes a huge number of extremely giving people who care about their community and want to make a difference to the lives of others,’ he said.

‘Foster carers are in many ways the unsung heroes of our community because they share their homes with children who are at times in their lives when they need help, and the experiences inherent in taking on this role are extremely rewarding and gratifying.

‘We’re hoping this campaign will ignite the interest of many Perth individuals and families who would be interested to discover more about what is involved with becoming a foster carer and learn how they can help make an incredible difference to our next generation.

Child protection minister Helen Morton said more than 100 new carers were needed

‘The decision to foster care is a significant decision for any family or individual to make,’ she said.

‘Foster caring is a demanding yet rewarding role that involves understanding the needs of a child in care and building strong and trusting relationships.

‘The people that take on this role do so out of love and commitment.’

For more information, email fosteringservices@mercycare.com.au or call 9442 3439.