Of all the benefits fostering provides children and their foster families, Challenge Community Services’ foster carer Cindy says it is the joy a child brings to her whole family that matters the most.
“My foster care child has only been here for a few weeks but already I have gained so much from the experience,” she said. “He has brought so much happiness to the house with his antics.
“I’ve wanted to be a foster carer for over ten years. Now all my children are teenagers I thought the time was right.
“When we are sitting around the dinner table together of a night time, we all enjoy having a little person’s input into the general conversation and everyday goings on of our life.
“Our family can provide him with the opportunity to see how a normal family functions and the happiness a family can give.”
According to Cindy, the whole fostering experience has been made easier with the help of Challenge.
“Any questions we’ve had have been dealt with quickly,” she said. “They have really listened to what I’ve had to say and have sorted any issues out in a way that suits both myself and my foster child.”
Cindy is looking forward to taking on more foster care children in the future and encouraged others to become a foster carer. “The whole fostering experience has just been wonderful: we’ve had nothing but smiles on our face since he got here,” Cindy said.
Details: Email fostercare@challengecommunity.org.au or phone 1800 084 954.