Karen’s story

Karen has been an AFSS foster carer since 2012. She’s taken on the care of a two year old child long term, and has had a least 15 children coming into her home for respite during this time.

Karen believes all children should have a loving and stable home environment, in which their trauma, grief and loss can be supported. Karen comes from a youth profession which has developed her skills to manage the behaviours that some children may exhibit.

Karen has a strong commitment to ensuring all children who enter her care maintain their cultural connections with country and family ties, by assisting with travel to remote areas to ensure family contact with both immediate and extended family. Karen feels this is an important role that she plays due to her own children’s family connections.

“The reality is that in some cases I get a phone call an hour before a child enters my home. Some of these children can have very challenging behaviours, you need to take it day by day and be committed to the child,” says Karen.

“Sometimes you get very little information; you’ll need to have observation skills to assist the child in settling into the home. I’m lucky my children are easy going and used to changes in the home because of the own cultural heritage. AFSS has supported me from the commencement of my registration. They’re just a phone call away and gather any information that I require, which allows me to have more of a focus on the child.

“When a child enters my care and then leaves happy, it’s like a feeling of satisfaction, that I have made a difference either big or small. This is why I continue to provide care for Aboriginal children in care.”