Meet Nancy
Nancy had raised two of her own biological children. As her children were entering high school and becoming more independent Nancy felt she had more time on her hands, which she wanted to put towards “giving kids some new opportunities.”
A lot to offer
Nancy, along with her two children, was committed to becoming an emergency short-term foster carer since her initial enquiry. “We chose emergency short term care as we wanted to be able to help a lot of children in the time of uncertainty, this way I also thought I may be able to help the parents as well.”
“I see our role as assisting the children to understand what has happened and to prepare them for their future – whatever that path may be.”
Nancy recalls receiving a call at 3.30pm with a request to care for a 5-year-old boy who had just been removed from his parents care. “Billy arrived within the hour, it was a frantic hour but we were ready – or so we thought.” Nancy laughed, reflecting on what she had originally thought fostering would entail and what she now knows the reality is. “Billy had been severely neglected and although 5 years old it was like caring for an 18 month old, he couldn’t speak properly, wasn’t toilet trained and screamed often. It was a long and at times very testing road however, Billy stayed with us for a year and the changes he made were amazing, he became such a happy little boy, and to think we were part of that is wonderful.”
Nancy continues as an emergency short-term carer and has now cared for numerous children – some transitioning to long-term care and others returning to their parents. “I see our role as assisting the children to understand what has happened and to prepare them for their future – whatever that path may be.”
