She has cared for more than 200 children of all ages and walks of life during her 20 years as a short-term emergency and crisis foster mother.

Mrs Roberson said it was hard work but the rewards far outweighed the effort she and her husband made.

“We’re in our 60s now and are looking after five children at the moment - a one, three, five, seven and 16-year-old,” she said.

“I guess over the years, as a couple, we’ve learned to talk about things with each other and especially with other carers. They are always our greatest support.

“Only someone who has been a foster carer can understand the unique challenges that come with caring for children that are not yours and that have in many cases been through trauma.”

The Robersons have seven children of their own but all now live out of home.

“We won’t keep doing it forever,” she said.

“We are close to calling it a day, but the department doesn’t believe me.

“I have said though, while my arms can still hold a baby we will look after the babies we can.”

Mrs Roberson is also the Nowra co-ordinator for Connecting Carers, a statewide organisation that provides support for foster carers.

Some cases are both hard emotionally and physically, Mrs Roberson said.

“You learn every day and when you think you have seen it all or say to yourself, ‘I could never see a case more severe than this’, there is always something new. It never ceases to amaze me,” she said.

“They’re pretty much all happy endings.

“Naturally, you worry about where the child will go. Support from other carers and training from the departments helps with this,” she said.

“Some keep in contact but they have their own lives to live so I understand when a lot of them don’t.”

Mrs Roberson said just the other week she ran into some children she cared for.

“They came over and gave me a huge hug … there is nothing better than that feeling,” she said.

Mrs Roberson said Foster Care Week was really important to acknowledge what carers do and to try to recruit more.

There are 339 carers in the Nowra area but more are desperately needed.

“We particularly need foster carers for school aged children and Aboriginal carers,” Mrs Roberson said.

“I think the reason why a lot of people don’t get involved in fostering is because they have a perception of what they should be and what you should have to be one.

“You just need to be someone who can give a child safe place to stay and give them love.”

The longest placement the Robersons have had was for three-and-a-half years.

Mrs Roberson said there was an acute need for Aboriginal foster carers to look after indigenous children.

“There have been extreme cases where the kids can’t stay locally and are sent out to places like Broken Hill.

“It’s very hard when that happens.”

Mrs Roberson urged anyone interested in finding out more about foster care to contact Michael Dodos on 4424 5100.

“We really need to make a passionate plea for more carers,” she said.

“These children could be in danger and it is so sad to have to turn down a placement, but there are only so many I can take on board myself.”