Naomi was already running her own business and supporting a teenage son but was determined to offer a place in her home for a child in need.
“Being a chef for 30 years, I’m adaptable very quickly and I’m just a ‘get it done’ person,” the Yorke Peninsula woman says.
“I just threw myself into it,” she says of her role as a foster carer.
She and her former husband had one child, Jaxon, now 18, and while Naomi would have liked more, life hadn’t panned out that way. About five years ago, with two of the four bedrooms in her house empty and an awareness of the level of need in her community, she decided to explore foster care. Naomi had long considered becoming a carer but previously believed that might not be possible because she was single.
“There were a lot of children in Jaxon’s school who would come out of school and they’d be laughing, then you’d see them slump because they had to go home,” she says.
She first took on the care of two siblings, who were eventually reunited with their birth family, and later, teenager *Lucy. While Naomi says foster care comes with many challenges, she relishes seeing changes in Lucy’s life, particularly developments in her emotional regulation and resilience.
Lucy is doing well at school, is involved with multiple sports clubs and was recently accepted into a sports academy.
“After she was accepted… she was saying to her coach and occupational therapist, ‘If I was with any other carer, I wouldn’t have been able to get any of these opportunities like I’ve had with Naomi’.”
“That was nice to hear. Teachers are also saying, ‘She’s come such a long way, and that’s because of you and your help’.”
The Department for Child Protection aims to safely reunify children with their birth families wherever possible. Foster carers play a vital role in caring for children while services work with families to address safety concerns, or to find extended family members who can safely care for the children.
Naomi, who also supports other carers through a role with Uniting Country SA, encourages others who’ve considered foster care to explore the various options available.
“Yes, it’s challenging, but so is parenting any other child. There’s so much support available and it’s such a rewarding experience, knowing that you’re giving a child a new start and a safe place,” Naomi says.
*Name has been changed for privacy reasons
More the merrier in couple’s household
Foster carers Peter and Jo say there’s “symphony in the chaos” of a household with six children.
The Upper Spencer Gulf couple have three of their own biological children and have also taken on the care of three other primary school-aged siblings, supported by Centacare Catholic Country.
Jo says the children all look out for each other and in particular, have rallied around the couple’s youngest foster child, *Dale, who lives with significant disabilities.
“He’s become the centrepiece for the whole family – they all love him, help him and look after him. Because they see his disability, it draws out their compassion – it’s beautiful.”
Jo says the role isn’t without its challenges, including navigating the child protection system’s decision-making process and changes in case management staffing.
“There’s a lot of phone calls and a lot of time and meetings, but that helps keep the children safe,” she says.
“You do need a thick skin. But the end product is you’re giving these kids … opportunities they wouldn’t have had – and hopefully they’ll succeed as adults.”
Jo is a full-time carer and Peter owns his own wellbeing business, acknowledging that being self-employed also helps the couple to manage their “full dance card”.
Good organisation is also key, he says.
“I feel very blessed to be in a position where we can see two sets of siblings grow up together and be involved in raising them,” Peter says.
*Name has been changed for privacy reasons
Foster care: your questions answered
I haven’t had my own children. Can I still be a carer?
Yes! What matters most is that you want to provide a safe and loving home environment, and are willing to learn, collaborate and receive ongoing training and support.
Do I need to own my home?
No! As long as your house is safe and suitable for children, that’s the priority.
Do carers need to be partnered?
We welcome foster carers from all walks of life. Whether you’re single or partnered, heterosexual or part of the LGBTQIA+ community, we need your support.
What types of placements are available?
You don’t have to be a child’s full-time carer. Emergency care may involve an overnight stay or last up to two weeks. Respite carers have a child with them for short stays, such as weekends or school holidays. There’s also short-term and long-term care, and specialist care for children with complex needs.
Where can I find out more?
fostercare.sa.gov.au
1300 2 FOSTER (1300 2 367 837)
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