CASPA’S Foster Carer Shared Lives training in-person workshop is taking place in Coffs Harbour on consecutive Saturdays: March 26 and 2 April 2022.

“Becoming a foster carer is both rewarding and life-changing,” Elise Taylor, CASPA spokesperson, told News Of The Area.

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“Foster Carer Shared Lives training is structured as an opportunity to ask everything you want to know about fostering.”

The CASPA Foster Care support team focuses on the challenges, rewards, and the role of a foster carer while also touching on the foundation around trauma and childhood development.

“Often people want to become carers because they want to help children in need.

“They don’t realise that by helping a child, you are helping an entire family to heal.

“There is a stigma attached to parents of children in care, so we will discuss why children come into care.”

For various reasons their families are unable to safely care for them at that point in time.

“The family may be affected by homelessness, a death of a parent or guardian, family breakdown or violence, or maybe there is illness or disability affecting the parent or child’s and there isn’t capacity to provide the required level of care.”

Shared Lives training has a strong emphasis on carers developing positive working relationships with parents and families and the different permanency pathways for children.

Foster Carer Training is a free, accredited training program and the first step in the process of becoming an authorised carer.

To become a foster carer, you must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, in good health and willing to undertake a Working with Children Check.

Aboriginal carers are encouraged to apply.

“It is vital, and culturally appropriate, that Aboriginal children are placed with Aboriginal carers where possible.

“Having a wide range of carers allows us to meet the individual needs of each child and ensure they are in the best placement for them,” said Elise.

The in-person training is taking place at CASPA offices at 1/43 Gordon Street, Coffs Harbour.

Book in at www.eventbrite.com.au/e/228623668547.

The online training has been broken up into four smaller sessions, beginning 28 April.

Book in at www.eventbrite.com.au/e/228623668547.

Foster carers Sue and Allan Hindmarsh from Coffs told News Of The Area, “We are blessed to be able to love and nurture children and play a small part in their lives.

“Being a carer brings joy and a great deal of love.

“It is busy, tiring, and emotional and of course has its challenges.

“But it is an immense privilege to be able to support and care for children in their time of need.”

By Andrea FERRARI