Foster Carers

The Hon. AILEEN MacDONALD (12:20:58):

My question is addressed to the Minister for Families and Communities, and Minister for Disability Services. Will the Minister update the House on how foster carers are being celebrated in New South Wales?

The Hon. NATASHA MACLAREN-JONES (Minister for Families and Communities, and Minister for Disability Services) (12:21:17):

I thank the honourable member for her question and acknowledge that it is her inaugural question. The New South Wales Liberal-Nationals Government's ongoing support for foster carers helps secure a brighter future for all families, particularly those caring for the most vulnerable children in our community. I was pleased to attend the Foster and Kinship Care Week Picnic in Marrickville last month. The Government funds My Forever Family NSW to coordinate the picnic and a number of regional events across the State. During the COVID-19 period, it was unfortunate that they were not able to have the picnics, but they did a fantastic job in going out and acknowledging and thanking foster carers, providing them with vouchers, coffee and cake as a way of saying thank you.

The picnic's theme this year was "come as your favourite character". There were a lot of superheroes running around and celebrating the amazing work of the carers across New South Wales. After the past two years of COVID disruptions, it was a great opportunity for us to celebrate the amazing work of all of our carers, with over 600 people attending. It was a great opportunity for the children to go on rides and enjoy a sausage sizzle and a petting zoo. The event was entirely run by volunteers. I acknowledge the work of the Department of Communities and Justice and the non-government organisations that put the day together. The picnic was a key event to mark Foster and Kinship Care Week, which encompasses a range of activities aimed at recognising carers, showing appreciation and thanking them for their invaluable contribution. The week is also about highlighting the need for more carers just like them.

There are nearly 15,000 children placed in voluntary foster and kinship care across New South Wales. These are some of the most vulnerable children and young people in our State. They have experienced trauma and neglect or abuse, and they require a safe home. It takes a lot of passion and drive to do the work that foster carers do. It takes selfless compassion, which is a particular quality. I acknowledge the foster carers in this Chamber, particularly the Hon. Penny Sharpe and the Hon. Mick Veitch, for the work that they have done. In my family, I have an aunt and uncle on my husband's side who were foster carers for over 40 years. They focused on crisis care for a number of years during that time, particularly for newborns, which requires a particular skillset because you are looking after young people who you know will be leaving in a few months, and they quite often come from parents with complex needs as well.

I can see the Hon. Penny Sharpe nodding. It is a very difficult type of care. I particularly acknowledge their work. As I said, carers come from all walks of life and offer different types of care, from emergency and respite care through to long-term care. I acknowledge the initiatives that the New South Wales Government is delivering to support foster carers, particularly through coaching and the work that My Forever Family NSW does, as well as, more recently, extending parental paid leave to support public service employees who are looking after and supporting children in foster care.

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