General News
24 December, 2024
Christmas a challenging time for foster kids
It's often a time of family and friends, but in the lead up to this Christmas, spare a thought for those children living in foster or residential care.
This time of year is the busiest for family services organisation Berry Street, with an expected 30 per cent increase in demand for domestic and family violence services in the lead up to Christmas.
There are around 12,000 children in Victoria living in foster and residential care, with around a portion of those located in the Wimmera.
Emma Hoare is an assessment practitioner for Berry Street in the area that covers Horsham and said Christmas can be challenging for these children.
She said carers aim to provide a calm and supportive environment for those in care on Christmas Day.
"Obviously children who have experienced abuse have experienced the trauma of being removed from their family and as much as possible we want to create calmness and safety, and we want to do that in a gentle way," Ms Hoare said.
"I know in my family we have lots of surprises and traditions but every family is different and it's about being able to do the best we can for these children, for example, children who have experienced trauma often don't like surprises, they need to be able to rely on what is happening for them and our carers are trained to be informed in trauma and be mindful of some of the triggers children can experience around Christmas time.
"It could even be something like they are expecting Santa but are worried Santa won't know where they are living; it's a hard time for anyone away from family but particularly children who have been removed."
Ms Hoare said in Horsham, it isn't only children who need support over the festive and holiday season, but carers are needed to support other carers.
"We put a call out earlier in the year in Horsham and got some applicants that are lovely so that is exciting for the New Year," she said.
"But the reality is, we still don't have enough carers in the area of Horsham and what that means for children who come into care over the Christmas and New Year period, with a spike in Family Violence, if a child has been removed, the reality is if we can't place them with a carer in Horsham, they might need to move to an area outside of the region.
"This is another level of trauma for a child, they are away from their family, their support, so we want these children to remain in Horsham and not go out of region."
Ms Hoare said ahead of a long holiday period, carers can need a break, or the child might need a break from their carers.
"So we need more carers who can give carers a break, it would be lovely to have more carers in Horsham so they can support each other," she said.
"A child might be in the long term care of one carer but might have a regular carer for respite they go to, so they develop a good, positive relationship with that family as well - kind of like going to visit an aunt or uncle."
Ms Hoare said carers of foster kids are her favourite people, and although with children who have experienced trauma can come behaviours, the organisation has carers who have done so for years.
"They do it because they know the good that it does," Ms Hoare said.
"Children are individuals, but when you get to know them as people, you just want the best for them.
"For a child, once they have a calm, safe place, the work can start on the child building connection and trust, and with that connection and trust, so much good can happen.
"And anyone who has been part of that will say just how good that is."