Foster Care Week 2013 - CatholicCare honours their foster carers
Newcastle and Hunter foster care agency, CatholicCare Hunter-Manning, will this Friday celebrate Foster Care Week at Merewether Bowling Club from 11am- 2pm to honour their “unsung heroes”, foster and relative carers.
Foster Care Week is an initiative of The Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies (ACWA) and non-government foster care agencies and this year, NSW foster carers will be celebrated right across the state as the “quiet achievers” in the Foster Care System.
CatholicCare Out of Home Care Manager, Kathryn Puckeridge, said hundreds of children in the Hunter have been given a safe place to call home because of the dedication of foster and relative carers who exist in our community.
“Foster carers from Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Newcastle, Muswellbrook and Singleton have taken a look at their own lives and thought, ‘We have room to care for one or two more’, and have literally opened their hearts and homes to a child or children needing care,” Ms Puckeridge said.
“It’s because of these amazing people that a number of children in the Hunter has been given what every child deserves, a safe and loving home where they can grow and develop."
Ms Puckeridge said the CatholicCare Foster Care Luncheon this Friday is an opportunity for CatholicCare and the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle to show their appreciation and say ‘thank you’ to all the foster and relative carers who work with their organisation.
“It is an opportunity for CatholicCare to publicly acknowledge the important contribution that foster carers make to the lives of some of the state’s most vulnerable children and young people,” Ms Puckeridge said.
Minister for Family and Community Services Pru Goward said foster carers change lives by giving children and young people new opportunities and helping to break cycles of disadvantage.
“Foster carers are the quiet heroes of our community – offering care and love, day in day out, with little public recognition but literally changing the lives of vulnerable children and young people,” Ms Goward said.
People do not need to be Catholic to become foster carers with CatholicCare and anyone interested in becoming an emergency short or long-term foster carer is encouraged to call 4923 0600. You can also visit CatholicCare on line by going to www.catholiccare.org.au or email becomeafostercarer@catholiccare.org.au
Date: Friday 13th September 2013
Venue: Merewether Bowling Club, Caldwell St, Merewether
Time: 11am – 2pm
MEDIA/ PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
A number of Foster Care families are available to speak to media on the day and be photographed along with OOHC Manager Kathryn Puckeridge. Please contact Emma Blackford on 0419 263 901.
