HUNTER residents have been encouraged to consider applying to become foster carers, as services prepare for a potential increase in the number of children needing support.
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Life Without Barriers NSW north regional director for family based care, Benn Anderson, said there were 1000 carers tied to the organisation across the state.
"However, we always need more carers, particularly here in the Hunter," Mr Anderson said.
"People here have had a lot to deal with over the last few months with fires, floods and now the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions, and we have experienced a decrease in enquiries [from potential carers]."
He said there was currently a particular need for carers able to provide respite care, as well as to support children aged eight and above in the short, medium and long term.
Mr Anderson said while it was "too soon to say" how COVID-19 and associated stress on families would influence demand for carers, he said he expected there would be an increase.
"It's still quite early," he said.
"We're still operating business as usual, we're still getting referrals to support children, we're still seeing that consistently come across.
"I would suspect in the future we will be seeing that [an increase] but at this point in time I have not seen any particular trends as such.
"But saying that I think we're now six weeks into COVID-19, so that's still quite early to say."
He said government restrictions around gatherings had affected how the organisation helped maintain contact between children and birth families.
"Every case is quite unique and we look at the circumstances related to that," Mr Anderson said.
"Where possible we're looking at alternative means of contact, so looking at electronic means, looking at phone calls, looking at that space.
"A large portion of our role is what additional support do we need to be providing to [foster] households in regards to technology, looking at do we need to be providing additional resources such as laptops, iPads, or getting Internet."
Mr Anderson said there were multiple and complex reasons why children needed to go into care, including family breakdown, trauma, poverty and homelessness.
"Most children in care have experienced trauma and this can be challenging at times, but our fosters carers are supported to understand this behaviour and we help them to manage and process that."
He said many had "preconceived views" of what foster carers looked like, but the organisation welcomed applications from - and provided training and support to - all kinds of carers, whether they are single or couples and with or without children.
"It's about making a difference and providing an opportunity to a child."
Helen Gregory
Helen Gregory joined the Newcastle Herald in 2010. She is the masthead’s education reporter and has written for the H2 and Weekender sections, as well as across a range of issues. Helen is a Walkley Award winning journalist and was also part of the Newcastle Herald team that won the United Nations World Environment Day Media Award for Environmental Reporting.
Helen Gregory joined the Newcastle Herald in 2010. She is the masthead’s education reporter and has written for the H2 and Weekender sections, as well as across a range of issues. Helen is a Walkley Award winning journalist and was also part of the Newcastle Herald team that won the United Nations World Environment Day Media Award for Environmental Reporting.
