Njernda calls on respite carers to give back to community

By Adair Winder

Sep 14, 2022

High priority: Njernda foster care recruitment worker Sharyn Kelly said finding more respite carers in community has been identified as a priority. Photo by Contributed

Njernda Aboriginal Corporation is encouraging people to take on respite out-of-home care roles and give full-time carers a much-needed break.

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This week is Foster Care Week (September 11-17) and finding more respite carers has been identified as a high priority for Njernda.

Njernda foster care recruitment worker Sharyn Kelly said short-term respite involved only a limited commitment and would make a world of difference to full-time carers.

“Our foster carers are truly wonderful people who give so much of themselves every day — but they also need a break, and that’s where respite carers come in,” Ms Kelly said.

“If our full-time carers can have a day or a weekend to regroup, that means they can sustain the great job they do, and means children in their care have foster parents who are present and more able to manage the demands on them.”

Local woman *Anna, who has been a foster, kinship and respite carer for five years, has looked after eight children over the past 12 months.

She and her husband began providing care after their own children and grandchildren had grown up.

“I enjoy it, I really do. I had five kids under five here at one stage — it was a challenge, but we got through,” she said.

She said allowing foster carers to have access to reliable respite is a safety valve for everyone to reset from what can be a daily struggle.

“Foster carers take kids on and sometimes they just need a break away or need to visit family, and those little children just can’t attend.

“That’s where respite comes in and helps — when you just need someone to come in and look after a child for a couple of days so you can have a break.”

Anna said there was enormous value in providing a service that made the children feel special.

“Respite carers can make it feel like a bit of a holiday and a special time for that child — something to remember, someone different to play with.”

Anna said providing respite care was just as important as providing full-time foster care — it helped the whole system to work.

“I keep saying to people I talk to in the street, just go to Njernda. Just go and make arrangements over there, they’re really great to work with,” she said.

Ms Kelly said for people considering respite care, Njernda is available to provide support and training.

Visit https://www.njernda.com.au/contact/ for more information.

* Not her real name.