WHAT’S surprising about Nowra couple Julia Parkes and Peter Steep becoming full-time foster carers is not that they resigned from their jobs to do it.
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It’s that the former welfare workers reunited three siblings doing so.
About 12 months ago, Julia and Peter became the carers of two brothers, aged 11 and 13.
Just two months later, the brothers’ 16-year-old sister also came to live with them.
The three siblings hadn’t lived together under the one roof for a number of years.
“I’m sure in years to come they will all value the opportunity that this has given them to learn to function as a family, to resolve conflict, to share good times and to build on their relationships,” Julia said.
“We have achieved a lot in our first year, even the boys can see how they have changed.”
Julia said at first it was challenging to find direction and decide what to focus on.
“We began with concentrating on teaching respect and responsibility, which we did for three months,” she said.
“Our next focus was shoes.
“For a while we had to accept that shoes being thrown in the direction of the shoe rack were better than them being strewn all over the yard.”
The couple has also focused on helping the boys relate to one another.
“There have been lots of stepping stones of growth,” Julia said.
“We keep building on little things and the most rewarding thing is that they genuinely like us and show their appreciation in age appropriate and natural ways.”
The two agree this is a more intensive foster care placement than most and that their professional backgrounds have proven invaluable.
“I knew from working in residential care that it is difficult for young people to respond to workers when they are on eight hour shifts,” Peter said.
“We can provide a level of consistency and positive reinforcement that is impossible for a team of shift workers.
“We talk a lot as a family at the dinner table and we do make a big effort to catch them doing good things.
“It is important to keep a balance – to promote the positive stuff as well as being firm on the negative.
“Sometimes the kids are taken aback when we say ‘Well done’. ‘What for?’ comes the reply.”
Julia said as a caseworker she tried to be genuinely caring and supportive to foster children, but found it difficult to make a real difference in children’s lives within a professional role.
“We took on this role knowing that we needed to put our hearts and souls into it,” she said.
“The biggest advantage of our foster caring role is how it enables us to blend work and family. Our foster children benefit when my children and grandchildren come to visit and we make sure that we spend quality time with our own families.”
William Campbell Foundation recruitment manager Ngaere Rayner said the foundation was looking for a couple who could care for a sinbling group and live in accommodation provided by the foundation.
“If you have ever considered fostering please give me a call,” she said. “Many people who contact us are worried that they don’t have what it takes to be a carer. All you need is to be over 21 years old with a stable lifestyle and have a genuine desire to help children, and a willingness to learn.”
William Campbell Foundation is holding a free foster care information session on Thursday, July 24 from 5–6pm at North Nowra Community Centre, 7 Holt Street, North Nowra.
To reserve your place, or for more information call 1300 130 585 or visit www.wcfoundation.org.au