When Helen became a MacKillop Family Services’ foster carer, she developed a deeper understanding of the challenging situations children in care might experience.
Poppy*, a teenager who entered Helen’s home seeking long-term care, showed Helen just how complex their histories can be.
Poppy had found her mother’s body, having succumb to her battle with mental illness.
Though this was a massive trauma to experience, after time Helen realised that her trauma went deeper.
"When she first came to me, she was obviously upset. I was asking her 'have you got friends from school who you'd like to come around?’ and things like that. At that stage, I was completely unaware she hadn't been to school. She had no friends, she had no family She had no-one, absolutely no-one," Helen says.
Though Poppy had been to primary school, she had missed the first three years of secondary school.
Helen had opened her home and heart to this kind, but frightened and confused, young girl. She knew that she needed to be the person who could be with Poppy every step of the way; to deal with her grief and find her place in the world after being isolated from it for so long.
"We had to go back to her house to clear it out ... she couldn't tell me which house she'd lived in because she didn't recognise the front ... That's when I realised Poppy really needed some grounding and some support."
Helen realised Poppy needed experience the everyday things that children her age wouldn’t give a second thought.
They went to parks; they went to the beach. Helen knew she needed to normalise the outside world and show Poppy that the wide world, though scary at first, was a place of wonder.
"I took her out one day and she was amazed at seeing cows in the paddock!”
Watching Poppy grow brought Helen so much joy. Going to the movies with friends, her first sleepover and just talking about her future showed the power foster carers have to help shape the lives of children and young people in care.
Helen had seen children come into care after living in unstable homes. Abuse. violence and neglect were common. With Poppy though, Helen saw deep trauma that required love, care and the one thing every child needs: a loving family.
If you have ever considered becoming a foster carer or simply want to learn more, find out when our next information session is below.
