Melbourne foster carer left with PTSD after ‘systemic failures in Anglicare Victoria program

A veteran Melbourne foster carer forced out of the sector with post-traumatic stress syndrome says the system must change.

Dedicated foster carers Rhonda Blakeney and Jenni McKelvie say they were let down by Anglicare Victoria. Picture: Jason Edwards

A foster carer says she was failed by the system when she was subjected to extreme violence, threats and verbal abuse from an at-risk youth placed in her care.

Rhonda Blakeney was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after she took part in an Anglicare Victoria program that saw vulnerable children reside with her in Melbourne.

Ms Blakeney, who dedicated nearly 20 years of her life fostering 11 children, was excited about the program which had strict eligibility criteria and promised a team of support staff.

But the volunteer carer said the initiative was a “complete disaster” after she experienced violence including kicking, hitting and having objects thrown at her.

Dedicated foster carers Rhonda Blakeney and Jenni McKelvie say they were let down by Anglicare Victoria. Picture: Jason Edwards

Despite repeatedly telling Anglicare Victoria that she was “fearful for her safety” and “struggling to cope”, Ms Blakeney’s concerns were not addressed and the child remained in her care for months.

“It was all heard but no action,” she said.

Ms Blakeney was told she would be assisted by a 24/7 support manager, a family worker and an educator but some of the roles were left vacant after staff left and scheduled meetings and phone calls were often cancelled.

She settled a civil claim with Anglicare Victoria, but spoke exclusively to the Herald Sun about the “systemic failures” in the out-of-home care system.

“The system needs to recognise volunteer foster carers are an integral part of the child protection system and afford them the same workplace health and safety privileges that paid employees have access to,” she said.

“The idea that they (providers) believe they don’t have a duty of care to foster carers, particularly when violence is a regular occurrence, is insulting”.

Ms Blakeney does not blame the child, but said neither of them should have ever been placed in such a “difficult” situation.

She said she was at breaking point by the end of the program and is no longer a foster carer.

Anglicare Victoria provides homes to about 1000 children every night.

Ms Blakeney does not want to dissuade others from foster parenting, but said providers needed to recognise the value of volunteer carers and introduce better safeguards to ensure their wellbeing – such as recognising trauma.

“Foster caring is one of the most rewarding experiences,” she said.

“But over the years I’ve seen systemic abuse that not only extends to children in care, but also foster carers who end up burnt out and left to carry the scars with little or no support.”

Jenni McKelvie took part in the same program and said Anglicare Victoria failed to provide adequate information to carers about the needs of children.

“I left that program because I felt unsafe in my own home,” she said.

She reiterated Ms Blakeney’s calls for carers to receive the same recognition and rights as employees would.

“Fostering is the most incredibly rewarding thing that you can do, if it’s done right,” she said.

“If carers had support, like it was an employee job, there would be far more successful outcomes.”

Shine Lawyers chief legal officer Lisa Flynn, whose firm represented Ms Blakeney, said the “broken” system was ignoring the concerns of carers.

“She knew this program wasn’t the right fit for this young person and tried to get them the help they actually needed, but nobody would listen until it was too late,” she said.

“I shudder to think how many other carers are being put in dangerous situations like Rhonda was, and how many children are being left worse off because the people who can help change the system simply won’t do anything.”

Anglicare Victoria chief executive Paul McDonald said the organisation was not able to comment on individual cases but its services provided “safe and secure” homes to approximately 1000 children on any given night.

“When trauma and complex needs are present, kids can present with challenging behaviours,” he said.

“In a very small number of instances, a child’s placement with a carer is not viable, and when this happens we ensure the outcome reached benefits both the carer and the young person.”