For 18 years, AnglicareSA foster carers Carol and Gordon have opened their home to countless children in need of somewhere safe, a place to be nurtured, and an opportunity to belong.

Their journey to becoming carers began when they moved to their rural property north of Adelaide when their youngest child was still at home, while their older children had grown up and moved away.

Carol said they saw an opportunity to help other children while giving their youngest the experience of growing up with other children around her.

“We thought we could help other children,” Carol said.

“Since then, we have welcomed more than 50 children into our home through emergency, respite, short-term, and long-term care.

“We have four children currently living with us permanently, while our first foster child who is now 19 is still a part of our lives and lives with us.”

Gordon said their commitment to providing a safe home for children had meant being prepared to welcome children with very different experiences and needs.

“We have completed additional training so we can provide different types of foster care, including therapeutic care and specialised care.

“We both also completed diplomas in community services.”

The commitment also centres on culture, providing opportunities for connection for two First Nations children in their care, one of whom also attends the Kauwe Purruna Bush School, established by another AnglicareSA foster carer to address gaps in opportunities for cultural learning for other First Nations children in care.

“Not being First Nations ourselves, we make an effort to support their connection to culture by participating in First Nations community events and activities,” Gordon said.

“It is our way of helping them understand where they come from.”

Carol said fostering was about understanding that every child comes from a unique background and progress does not always happen quickly or in obvious ways.

“Sometimes it is the small moments that remind us why we do it,” Carol said.

“When a child says, ‘I love you’, or brings home a handmade card from school, or experiences something new for the first time, it can make all the hard work worthwhile.

“One of our emergency placements, an 11-year-old girl, recently learned how to ride a bike after Gordon fixed one up for her.

“When she got on, she said, ‘I have never ridden a bike before’, but then spent the morning riding up and down the driveway.”

Both Carol and Gordon were open about the fact that fostering was not always easy and could at times be a tremendous amount of work, but seeing the growth and development of their first foster child, who is now working and achieving, was something to be proud of

“It is rewarding to see that she has accomplished that,” Gordon said. “It is nice to see the kids grow up – we like to think that we are making a difference.”