Hello Staff
Please find below an email from Anglicare regarding their current Foster Carer recruitment drive
My name is Matthew Morrissey and I am writing to you today to discuss the current drive to recruit Foster carers within the Loddon region.
As you may be aware foster care in Victoria is at crisis with a lot of children having to stay in hotels with Child Protection staff due to a lack of foster carers.
Anglicare is funded by the state government to provide Foster Care for children in the Loddon region.
Our catchment area spreads across a significant portion of Victoria including Bendigo, Pyramid Hill, Boort, Maryborough, Castlemaine, Gisborne, Heathcote, Rushworth, Kyabram and Echuca.
In 2021 Anglicare received hundreds of requests from the Department of Family, Fairness and Housing Services to find foster care placements. Many schools in our region have been affected by this with students suddenly having to change schools during times of Child protection involvement. The demand for Foster Care homes has increased significantly within the Loddon region in putting strain our Anglicares availability to assist by matching children close to their schools and family.
Our aim is to significantly boost the amount of carers within our region that can provide emergency, respite, short term or long term placements for children in need. We understand that it is incredibly beneficial for a child’s stability during this traumatic time to have the key people remain in their lives while appropriate steps are taking place within the home to ensure the child’s safety.
How can Victorian schools, Day Care Centres and Kinder help?
We are asking for your help to recruit foster carers by taking a marketing Poster and some brochures for your offices.
We also have small banners that we are hoping to place in public positions to advertise for carers.
The aim of Foster Care is to have children reunited with their families when it has been assessed safe to do so.
If you are able to assist please let us know.
Kindest regards,
Matt Morrissey Role: Caregiver services| Department: Out of Home Care.
p: (03) 54401100 m: 0412 345 678 w: anglicarevic.org.au