FOSTER CARE WEEK
I N T E R V I E W S
W I T H
A
C A R E R
&
Dawn Rogers DENNIS
TALITHA HOLZHAUSER How long have you been fostering? Eight years. We have had nineteen children in our care, including respite care. What led you to become a foster carer? We raised Dennis’ grandson from when he was three to fifteen. We had a good time with him; he did well, so we thought we would open our home to other children. What are some of the rewarding aspects of being a foster carer? Seeing children come home from school, witnessing their achievements and personal growth. All of the children have turned out so well; every single child we have had in our care would still be happy to come and say hello if they saw us. What are some of the challenging aspects of being a foster carer? Every day is a challenge.
Every day is an unknown quantity. Sometimes kids don’t know what to expect, it’s hard for them, and they are coming into a strange home. We actually had a young person do the bolt on us (laughs); when I drove to the roundabout, he opened the door and got out. The police brought him back at 3am - he was very happy to be back! We had one little boy for three months; he was not a problem. He had two bits of zucchini over two nights, and he thought that was a lot of vegetables! What would your advice be to anyone who is considering becoming a foster carer? Think about it and get as much information as you can. Talk to other foster carers. Be prepared to spend time with the kids.
How long have you been fostering? Officially? I guess you could say four years. Prior, I was looking after children who were going through rough patches in their lives. What led you to become a foster carer? I guess you could say I come from a long line of foster carers (laughs). I have a lot of aunties on my mother’s side, and a lot of them have been through the process of becoming carers. There was one lady in particular, who had a big impact on my life and inspired me to start the formal process to become a carer. I guess it is something I have always been interested in. What are some of the rewarding aspects of being a foster carer? When I was a child, I was immersed in the culture of foster care. I witnessed a lot foster children grow and turn their lives around, watched their progress
and how far they’ve come. With my own foster children, it’s a child using manners, or something as simple as learning the alphabet or learning to read a book. I guess just instilling confidence and teaching them a different way to deal with something too. It’s about the little wins. What are some of the challenging aspects of being a foster carer? Second-guessing if I am doing it right. I always put myself in the position of the child or their parents. I want to ensure that the child maintains a positive relationship with their parents and can reflect on positive experiences from the past. What would your advice be to anyone who is considering becoming a foster carer? Remain open minded, expect the unexpected, and take care of yourself.
make a difference in a child’s life today
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO BECOME A CARER PLEASE CONTACT PATHWAYS ON 1800 314 199 OR FOSTERING@PATHFINDERS.NGO
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