Desperate callout for NSW foster carers this Christmas

Cole and Gina Young have opened their hearts and their homes to 12 vulnerable children since becoming full-time emergency foster carers. Now they’re encouraging others to do the same.

Most people in their 60s might be daunted by the thought of caring for a newborn baby around the clock, let alone two, but for Cole and Gina Young it’s become their new normal.

The Youngs, from Western Sydney, have spent the past 10 years providing emergency care to infants and babies in the foster system, after taking in a young relative as their first foster child.

Mr Young, 63, and Mrs Young, 69, have cared for 11 bundles of joy in the past four years and have just taken in their 12th, a two-day-old infant just last week, while also caring for a seven month-old.

“We didn’t want to think of any child being alone, especially at this time of year,” Mr Young said. “Our purpose is not to change the system, not to change the world. Hopefully, we can change a child’s life.

“All we want to do is make sure they’re loved, they’re happy, they’re healthy, all their medical and emotional needs are met.”

Emergency foster care workers Gina and Cole Young with a nine day-old newborn baby who was placed in their care last week. Picture: Justin Lloyd

The couple sold their commercial gym and have devoted themselves to caring for vulnerable children full-time, regardless of the challenges each child may bring, including foetal alcohol syndrome, drug and alcohol dependency, or traumatic experiences.

“You just try to make a difference,” Cole said.

The Minns government is calling for the community to open their hearts and homes for hundreds of children this festive season. File picture: iStock

“You make a huge difference to one person, which is a little person, and then you move on and do the next.

“Every child that goes down the driveway takes a piece of (our) heart with them.”

It comes amid a push by the Minns government to recruit emergency foster carers for hundreds of children this festive season, after The Daily Telegraph revealed kids in care were slipping through the cracks.

“Basically the moment you think, should I become a carer? Would I have been a good carer? Could I have made a difference in that child’s life? The moment you think that, the answer to all those questions is yes,” Mr Young said.

Families and Communities Minister Kate Washington called on the community to open their hearts and homes to vulnerable children.

“We have found safe and caring homes for 849 children by recruiting 200 emergency carers, but we desperately need more,” Ms Washington said.

“If you want to change a child’s life please consider becoming a foster carer.”

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