- The Palaszczuk Government is looking for more foster carers, with a statewide recruitment campaign currently underway.
- The We need more foster carers, like you campaign features Cairns couple Lisa and Clayton, alongside other carers, in a series of television and social media advertisements and videos.
- Queensland currently has more than 6,000 foster and kinship carer families.
Everyday Queenslanders are asked to consider becoming foster carers to provide safe and caring homes for vulnerable children and young people.
Cairns foster carers Lisa and Clayton proudly feature alongside other carers in a recruitment campaign to boost the number of carers in Queensland.
The statewide television and digital campaign showcase stories of real foster carers sharing their unique stories to encourage more Queenslanders to take on the role.
Queensland has more than 6,000 foster and kinship carer families who come from all walks of life. This includes married couples with children of their own, single parent carers, members of the LGBTIQA+ community and First Nations carers.
Foster carers are provided with training and support through specialist agencies, as well as a tax-free fortnightly allowance to help meet the needs of young people placed in their homes.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Children Leanne Linard: “Foster and kinship carers are the lifeblood of Queensland’s child safety system.
“Their commitment and dedication to children in care is changing lives for the better and for this I say thank you.
“However, we are always looking for more carers to help make a difference in a child’s life. I hope this campaign will inspire more Queenslanders to consider taking on this incredibly rewarding but challenging role.
“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to supporting our foster and kinship carers with training, support, and a regular allowance to help meet the needs of children placed in their homes.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Cairns, Michael Healy: “Foster and kinship carers are nothing short of inspiring.
“Unfortunately, there are some children and young people in our community who are unable to live with their parents and who need a safe and caring home. That’s where foster and kinship carers step in.
“It is stories like Cairns’ own Lisa and Clayton’s, and thousands more throughout the state, which can best explain why being a foster carer is a privilege.”
Quotes attributable to Cairns foster carers Lisa and Clayton, parents to three biological children who have been carers for more than six years: “There are some children…who have had a really rough start or have had something really serious happen in their life and we need to help them,” Lisa said.
“I’ve met people from all different walks of life who work shift work and full-time jobs. That’s no barrier to caring. The agency [foster care agency] will work with you to arrange placements that meet your needs and work well for your family.
“The children just want someone to be there and love them. They want that routine. They want to know where the next meal’s coming from, that it’s all in a nice predictable fashion. And if you can provide that, you can provide foster care.”
“It is joy,” describes Clayton. “You’re just trying to provide for someone else. Now fostering is just a part of who I am.”
Explainer/fast fact and or further information: Anyone interested in becoming a foster care should visit www.qld.gov.au/fostercare or call Queensland Foster and Kinship Care on 1300 550 877.
