Pam and Des' story

Pam and Des have been devoted foster carers for almost 30 years and during this time, they’ve provided care and support to more than 60 young people. Keep reading to learn more about their experiences, motivations and advice for those who are thinking about opening their hearts and homes to children and young people who are not able to live at home. 

“At present, we provide short term, respite and emergency care to children in need. However, we are still looking after our 19-year-old who came to us at just three months old.” Pam shared.  

“As I was adopted, I value family connection. I wanted to help children to feel safe and help them to connect to their culture and family in hopes of being able to reconnect with their family, if it’s possible to do so. It’s very important to be supportive of both the children and their biological parents. When it comes to reunification, we find it very important to talk to the child about any questions or concerns they may have. We have had some involvement with the parents of the children we care for and it’s always great to be able to see things get to that stage as they work towards being a family again. 

“One of the best things about being a foster carer is seeing the young people achieve their goals. We are proud of them and are there to support them as they transition from school into adulthood. 

“As carers, we do get tired for one reason or another and it’s great to know that you can utilise respite care. This is important for foster and kinship carers as we need to have a breather. If you have your own children, it’s also great for them. 

“Our biggest piece of advice for new carers is to just be there for the children and reassure them that they are okay and safe. For us, we try to have a teddy, book or colouring book to help them settle in. We also have spare clothes for them as they sometimes don’t come with anything. 

“Being a foster carer is very rewarding. You get to watch a child grow up and achieve their goals and overcome some of life's biggest challenges. There are challenging moments. But it’s important to use your support network like your foster care support workers, family and friends to get through these times. 

“We’ve always felt supported and valued by the team at Anglicare Southern Queensland. They have been there for us and listened and given us quality 24-hour support.”  

Read more about the experiences of our other foster carers here. If you have a question about foster care or want to learn more, click here to reach out to our team.