Fostering futures for kids

In the past 25 years, Alison Edwards and husband Ian have been foster parents to more than 100 children.

The couple has three children of their own and started fostering when their eldest, Jai, turned six.

“We thought at that stage we had so much room for more kids,” Mrs Edwards said.

“I saw an ad and thought, ‘That’s perfect.’”

The 51-year-old family violence worker was one of six children and came from a tight-knit, supportive family.

“I think for Mum and Dad it might have been really difficult for them to see kids who didn’t have that,” Mrs Edwards said.

She said her parents always had their Panton Hill home open to visitors – particularly children in need of a meal or a place to stay. 

“Mum never knew how many people were coming to tea,” Mrs Edwards said.

Her father worked three jobs to support the family. Her mother was also employed. 

Mrs Edwards has made helping people experiencing disadvantage her life’s work.

She studied a Diploma of Community Welfare and worked for seven years at the Centre for Non-Violence.

“I’d really like to do some kind of work to support carers and kids in care,” Mrs Edwards said.

“It would be great to be a support for new carers because it can be a bit daunting.”

Mrs Edwards was in her mid-20s when she and Mr Edwards fostered their first child.

“He was a teenager and I hadn’t had a teenager – I freaked right out,” she said.

“When he came to the house he was bigger than I was and it was like, ‘My God.’

“He stayed with us for about six months – he was so much fun.”

Her experiences as a foster parent have been many and varied.

Some of the children stayed for a while, like the three siblings who were part of Edwards family for three years.

Others have flowed through the home in a short period of time. 

“Sometimes some of the placements can be quite challenging and quite draining on us,” Mrs Edwards said. 

After a placement ends, the family ‘regroups’, spending a weekend of quality time just enjoying each other’s company. Then a new person joins their midst.

“It will be something Ian and I will always do,” Mrs Edwards said. 

Mrs Edwards is one of six inaugural Bendigo Women’s Community Achievement Awards recipients.

She will attend the ceremony at Bendigo Stadium on Saturday, which doubles as a fundraiser for the Annie North Women’s Crisis Refuge Centre.

Tickets are $75 and are available from Bendigo Stadium by calling 5440 6200.