Foster parent Melissa Nye-Osborn is calling on more people in Melbourne’s north to care for some of the state’s most vulnerable children.
Ms Nye-Osborn has been a foster parent for more than six years. In that time, she has fostered more than 15 children ranging in age from two to 14 years old and has helped with short-term placements, emergency care, respite care and long-term placements.
The Craigieburn resident, 31, was inspired to become a foster carer after being the kinship carer for her sister’s two daughters for 18 months when she fell ill.
Ms Nye-Osborn said it was during that time that she realised there was a shortage of carers for children in Victoria.
“In that year and a half I cared for my nieces I didn’t have any weekends of respite, despite requesting a few days,” she said.
“It was then I realised that not only were there many more people in the same situation as me but also that carers in Victoria received the lowest reimbursement for their work [of any] state in Australia.”
Ms Nye-Osborn said while her sister made a full recovery, many parents of foster children were unable to resume guardianship because of illness, disability and in some cases situations where children were not safe in their care.
Many of the children have endured serious trauma or sexual, physical or emotional abuse.
“A lot of the children I care for have also had parents who are drug users and addicts,” Ms Nye-Osborn said.
“By the time they come into my care they have been extremely neglected and are vulnerable and afraid.”
Ms Nye-Osborn said it was her role to rebuild trust with the child and allow them to feel safe in a stable environment. “The behaviour of children can be very challenging at times because they have endured trauma at such a young age,” she said.
“But the rewards fair outweigh the negatives because you can provide the kids with care that they may not be able to have otherwise. It is also providing them with a safe environment and … you see the gradual changes in them as they relax.
“These small milestones many people take for granted, but seeing a child laugh and enjoy life as a child should gives me great satisfaction.”
Anglicare in Broadmeadows is searching for more foster carers. Carers can state their preference of a particular gender or age group and can specialise in providing care for adolescents, siblings, children with a disability or children with more complex trauma needs depending on their skills and experience.
Foster carers are provided with training and ongoing 24-hour support.
To volunteer or for more details, call 1800 809 722 or 9412 6133.
