Alison and Richard
Alison and Richard started fostering as a way to give back to the community and provide a better life for kids missing those opportunities.
Alison and Richard, along with their six-year-old daughter, considered foster care as a way to give back to the community and provide a better life for someone missing those opportunities.
“Key Assets was highly recommended to us by a foster carer who has over 15 years’ experience with fostering, both through Family and Community Services, and with other agencies,” Alison says.
The West Sydney couple have encountered the undeniable truths of family life shortly after becoming long-term foster sibling carers for a now, two-year-old boy and one-year-old girl through Key Assets.
“Sometimes understanding and accepting that at times, you as the carer will feel like it is you who must jump through the hoops, is what can be most challenging about foster care,” Alison says.
“We are here to give children peace of mind of having a strong support network, which can only be beneficial for their lives and their futures.
“Every child deserves a safe and loving home. Every child deserves a chance.”
Alison and Richard say caring for young foster children has been a positive experience for their family.
“You will go into the fostering system with the best intentions. It can be hard work but very rewarding to support a child through their early formative years,” Alison says.
“We have watched our foster children reach their milestones with great pride, knowing we have contributed to those crucial months of early development by providing a nurturing environment.
“We feel our biological daughter’s life too has been enriched by our interactions with Key Assets.”
Alison and Richard encourage other families to become foster parents.
“This is our first experience of fostering and we have found our dealings with the Key Assets staff to be professional, supportive and highly inclusive,” Richard says.
“As there are different types of short-term care, it may not require such a commitment as say long-term, but you cannot underestimate the value to a child. It could mean the difference between life and death.”
Children across Australia are in urgent need of a loving family and home. If you are interested in becoming a foster carer, visit www.canifoster.com.au, or call Key Assets on 1800 WE CARE.