Fostering connections in unique approach to foster care

Life Without Barriers is an organisation that seeks to provide vital assistance to those experiencing hindrances that prevent them from living as they should.

Life Without Barriers services a range of different needs, providing aged care, disability support, mental health assistance, youth services and more.

Coming into its sixth year of running Mockingbird Family, an initiative which aims to foster support and connection for foster carers and the children within their care, Life Without Barriers is hoping to expand the program throughout regional Victoria.

Mockingbird Family manager of practice advancement and implementation Chris Skinner said the approach was evidence-based, having origins stemming from the United States dating back to 2004.

Mockingbird Family works by grouping together different foster and/or kinship carer homes, which are known as satellite families, into their own local community, called a constellation.

After identifying the satellite families, who all should reside within a relatively close proximity, Mr Skinner said, “what we like to do is connect them together so they can provide a community of support to each other”.

Mr Skinner said that this not only benefited the child within care, but also offered essential aid to the carer.

“Carers only know what it’s like to be a carer,” Mr Skinner said.

“So to have someone that has walked in your shoes and can empathise with you is a big support.

“It’s the same for the kids.

“Kids who are in care can associate and socialise with other kids in care who know what it’s like to walk that life journey, and there’s a lot of great strengths and beautiful connections that form out of that.”

Life Without Barriers is setting out to form constellations within the Goulburn Valley, as well as in the Ovens and Murray region, and is seeking foster carers who are based in Seymour.

Mr Skinner said that although there was a widespread need for foster carers, demand was especially prevalent in regional areas.

“We particularly are hoping that we can find a greater network of carers in regional areas,” Mr Skinner said.

“In regional areas, one of our goals is to try and keep children and young people within their community or close to their place of origin.

“When we don’t have the options in regional areas, you have the unfortunate situation where kids can end up far away and in completely different communities.

“We’re really trying to help build that community of support so people don’t feel isolated and alone.”

Mr Skinner said that, to become a foster carer, “really just starts with an inquiry”.

“Sometimes just actually speaking to people that are doing it is the first point of contact.”

Following that initial inquiry, potential foster carers must go through an application process where they will be assessed on whether or not they will be the appropriate fit.

The approval process can take anywhere from six to nine months, and although it may at first appear daunting, Mr Skinner said that many individuals didn’t realise that they had all they needed to succeed in becoming a foster carer.

“What we’re looking for is not so much skills, but attributes,” Mr Skinner said.

“Having a caring nature, warm, altruistic, willing to grow and learn, having that ability to network in terms of your own supports.”

Mr Skinner said that although prospective carers may never have parented before, they “might just have the right attributes and characteristics for a young person, to care for them and show love unconditionally”.

For more information on Mockingbird Family, or to start your journey of foster caring, head to lwb.org.au/foster-care/, email carers@lwb.org.au, or call 1300 592 227