The demand for foster carers is at an all time high says welfare service Anglicare.
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The organisation last week used national Foster Care Week to encourage potential carers to give it a go.
Anglicare Victoria chief executive Paul McDonald said the organisation was looking for foster carers who could help out in a number of ways, including emergencies for one or two nights, short-time care up to a few months and longer-term care for up to two years or more.
"Every child is different and carers can choose what type of foster care they are able to provide based on their own family needs and time commitment," Mr McDonald said.
He said foster carers could be single, married or in a same-sex relationship, with or without children, older or younger, working full time, part time or as a stay-at-home parent.
"Each carer is trained and provided with ongoing 24-hour support," he said.
Bendigo couple Kathy and Shane became foster parents to a primary-aged child nine months ago. To protect the anonymity of their foster child, they do not wish to disclose their last name.
"My husband Shane and I were unable to have biological children," Kathy said.
The couple heard that St Luke's Anglicare in Bendigo was looking for carers and decided to put themselves forward.
Their foster child will live with them long term, until the age of 18.
Kathy said the child struggled with social and emotional needs and had some anger issues.
But she said the child became calmer because of the support and routine she and her husband provided.
She said the child struggled with any change to routine - a reaction to having had too many changes throughout life.
"We’ve had to really work hard to build up (the child's) trust," Kathy said.
She said it was important to assure their foster child that having bad days didn't mean the couple would give up their role as carers. She said regular encouragement and praise were vital.
Kathy said anyone that thought they would like to become a foster parent, should do so.
"I think it's something to give thought to, even though you have your hard days, there are so many rewards to see the changes in a child," she said.
"(Foster children) are looking for people to love them and care for them the way that any child should expect," she said.
The couple attended training at St Luke's Anglicare in Bendigo before they became foster parents.
"They do some face to face training where they just run through case studies of scenarios that might occur," Kathy said.
There did face to face interviews and the organisation came to assess their home environment.
St Luke's Anglicare in Hargreaves Street, Bendigo is holding a foster care information session on Wednesday from 6 to 7pm.
For further details and bookings, contact the Caregiver Services Unit on 5440 1100.