Real carers really needed: Queensland’s most extensive foster carer campaign begins

Wanted: Caring, compassionate people able to provide homes, love and support to vulnerable Queensland children.

The Bligh Government is urgently seeking more foster families to care for vulnerable children and young people who are unable to live at home because of abuse or neglect.

Child Safety Minister Margaret Keech said the call for carers was part of Queensland’s most extensive foster and kinship carer recruitment campaign, which starts with statewide television advertising on Sunday.

Mrs Keech said the Bligh Government had committed more than $15 million over five years to recruit, train and increase support for carers.

The money will go towards streamlining the approval process, reducing red tape and improving support networks and services for carers.

It will also fund a three-month campaign of television, radio, web, newspaper and magazine advertising, along with ads on national Indigenous radio and television targeting Indigenous carers for Indigenous children.

“It’s a shocking fact that there are currently around 6,500 children and young people in Queensland who are unable to live with their families because one or both of their parents abuse or neglect them,” she said.

“As families around the state prepare to celebrate Mother’s Day this weekend, I ask --- do you have room in your home and heart for a young person in need?

“We desperately need more families willing to provide these children and young people with safe and loving homes.

“Please seriously consider becoming a foster or kinship carer.”

Mrs Keech said foster carers were everyday people who made an extraordinary difference in the lives of children and young people who have suffered abuse or neglect.

“Carers can come from all walks of life, be young or old, and live in the city or the bush,” she said.

“However they all have one thing in common – a steadfast commitment to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable children and young people.”

Mrs Keech said individuals, couples and families were needed to care for children and young people across the state.

“We need more people to care for babies, children, adolescents, sibling groups and children with challenging behaviours,” she said.

“We also need more support carers – people who provide essential support to approved foster carers when they need a break from caring, time to deal with personal matters, or recover from illness.”

There are currently more than 3,300 foster and kinship carers in Queensland, including around 590 in Brisbane.

The foster and kinship carer campaign aims to recruit an additional 500 carers throughout the state.

For more information on becoming a foster or kinship carer, call 1300 550 877 or visit www.childsafety.qld.gov.au.

ENDS

Media Contact: Jo Crompton 3224 7081 / Matthew Hyde 3235 9236