Foster Care Week was an opportunity to stop, recognise and celebrate the amazing impact foster carers have on children and young people as they nurture our next generation.
Across Australia, carers open their homes and hearts to children and young people who need safety, support, and someone to believe in them. Whether it’s offering a warm meal, a listening ear, or just being there during tough times, the difference carers make is real and lasting.
At MacKillop, we marked the week with events across New South Wales and Victoria, bringing carers, children and staff together to connect, relax and celebrate.
Nationally, MacKillop employees participated in Carer Call Out Day – a MacKillop initiative where every staff member engages in an activity to help raise awareness about foster care and highlight the urgent need for more carers in our communities.
Over the past year, carers have helped shape some exciting new initiatives. One of them is our podcast, Preparing Our Hearts: A Foster Care Journey, created with the University of Melbourne. It dives into the emotional side of foster care, especially around placement changes, and shares real stories from carers and our team.
We’ve also rolled out a few new supports:
- A Peer Mentoring Program to connect new carers with those who’ve been doing it for a while
- A Carer Learning Hub with flexible access to training and resources
- And coming soon, a new App that makes it easier to stay updated, share info, and capture Life Story records for children in care.
All of these came from listening to carers and understanding what would help most.
With Foster Care Week come and gone, we just want to say a massive thank you to our carers. Their kindness, strength, and commitment help build brighter futures for children and young people. Every foster carer makes a huge difference, and we’re so grateful to have them in our community.