Foster carers needed in outer east urges Anglicare
An increase in children needing emergency care over the Christmas break has prompted a non-profit to plead with the community for help, with a desperate need for foster carers to come forward.
Outer East
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Homes are urgently needed for the growing number of children removed from their families, with a charity appealing for more foster careers in the outer east.
Anglicare Victoria is urging adults over 21, who can provide a safe and secure home, to apply to become a foster carer after an increase in children needing emergency placement during the Christmas holidays.
The non-profit’s eastern regional director, Shaye Chalmers, said while there were 230 foster households in the area, there was a desperate need for more.
“Over the Christmas period we saw an increased number of children entering care who needed emergency placements,” Ms Chalmers said.
“To ease the current pressure in Melbourne’s east, we’d love to see between 70 and 100 additional carers sign up to provide homes for children in need.”
She said anyone over 21, who could offer a secure, loving home, was eligible to apply.
“Carers can be single, de facto or married, with or without their own children,” Ms Chalmers said.
“Last year we placed more than 500 children in foster care but at present we can’t find homes for all the children who are referred to us.”
Foster carers provide supportive, stable and safe environments for children, allowing them to thrive emotionally and academically, Ms Chalmers said.
Mt Evelyn school teachers, Michelle and Stephen Duke, have been foster caring for more than three years and encouraged others to sign up and find out more.
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“We’ve always want to help others within our community and foster carer is something we could include our three children in,” the pair said.
“It’s always good to look past our own problems and see there are so many people who are having a tougher time at life than we are.”
For more information visit Anglicare.