Joy fostering care of young

WHEN she became a foster carer, Rebecca Luckman was surprised to find that welcoming additional children to stay fitted so neatly into her family’s life and routine.

She discovered that many of the skills and tools she used in the classroom came in handy at home with her foster children too.

“As a teacher I have strategies I use at school every day which help me manage situations that arise at home,” Rebecca said.

“Having a good idea of what behaviours are age-appropriate, as well as understanding that each child’s learning and development needs are different, has also meant I’ve been able to better connect with each of our foster kids.”

Rebecca, her husband Stewart, and their two teenagers contemplated fostering for several years before starting the process of becoming accredited carers.

“I called and inquired about fostering with Anglicare Victo- ria more than a couple of times before we finally committed,” Rebecca said. “We’d always have a reason why it wasn’t the right time for us – the kids were too busy with sport; we both work full-time … in the end it was actually my daughter who convinced me to submit the paperwork.”

“Going through accreditation and training with Anglicare Victoria was great. Everything was online, which made it easy. We were able to go through it at our own pace and at times that were convenient for our family.

“The foster care team we work with in Bendigo are so incredibly supportive and helpful – they go above and beyond for us. They select placements that fit in with our family and remind us to take breaks from fostering if we need to.

“As a family we’ve continued to learn and grow with each foster care placement we’ve had. It has absolutely brought us a renewed sense of closeness.

“I think our 14 and 16-yearolds would happily eat in their rooms, but now we have dinner at the table as a family.

“I’ve watched our kids develop the confidence to engage in passionate conversations, take initiative to help make our foster children feel welcome, and understand that not everyone is as fortunate as they are,” she said.

Rebecca said she always found it incredible to see children come out of their shells and change their behaviour to become the people they want to be.

“That’s what it’s all about for us, letting each child know how amazing they are, and they can achieve anything they want in this world,” Rebecca said.

“One of the young kids we fostered could not read or write and was displaying significant behaviour issues when he came to us.

“Six months later we received his school report, and it was sensational. He was reading, writing, and attending school full-time. He showed me a book he’d written, he’d dedicated it to ‘Bec, my hero’. It brought tears to my eyes.

“Often people say to me they couldn’t do what we’re doing, and I tell them that they can –anyone can do it. You don’t have to be special to foster, if you’re caring and compassionate, you’ll definitely get as much out of it as what you put in.

“For people thinking about becoming foster carers, I’d encourage you to just try it. Begin with respite care for a weekend, or during the school holidays –the difference you can make in even a short amount of time is astounding, and you’ll be surprised at how easily it fits into your life,” Rebecca said.