The Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services (DCSSDS) has announced that more than 600 Queenslanders expressed interest in becoming a foster carer in the first half of this year.
In the Department’s own words however: “We need more foster carers”.
The Department also said it needed to be like Brisbane couple Debbie and Steve and other carers who appear in a series of television and social media advertisements and videos in which they share their personal stories.
According to DCSSDS, Queensland has more than 6,000 carer families who come from all walks of life, and many are needed to help provide stable and safe homes for at-risk children and young people.
The recruitment campaign – We need more foster carers, like you – showcased the stories of real carers who have opened their homes to young people in care.
This includes married couples with children of their own, de facto couples, single parents, LGBTIQA+ community members and First Nations carers.
It said whether it was a short or long-term care for children or teenagers, carers were provided with training and support through specialist agencies.
“They also get a tax-free fortnightly allowance to help meet the needs of young people placed in their homes,” the Department said.
Minister for Child Safety, Craig Crawford, said he was very proud of Queensland’s foster and kinship carers and their tireless commitment to the State’s most vulnerable children.
“Carers are the backbone of our child protection system, and we value them enormously,” Mr Crawford said.
“Sadly, the number of children coming into care continues to rise, which is why we are always looking for more carers to provide safe and loving homes for young people who can no longer remain safely with their family,” he said.
He thanked the more than 600 Queenslanders who have expressed an interest in becoming carers this year already.
“This is the first and most important step towards becoming a carer and changing the life of a child forever,” the Minister said.
“Through this latest campaign I hope we can inspire even more Queenslanders to consider taking on this incredibly rewarding role because we can never have too many carers.”
Anyone interested in becoming a foster carer can find out more about it at the Department’s website at this PS News link or contact Queensland Foster and Kinship Care on 1300 550 877.
