This #FosterCareWeek2024, the Foster Care Association of Victoria held its annual Carer Celebration and Annual General Meeting event with over 150 carers, agency, staff and sector colleagues at The Hotel Windsor, Wurundjeri land, on September 13, 2024 to celebrate foster carers and their enormous contribution to the children in their care, families and the community.
The FCAV’s Carer Celebration is one of many events held around the state to celebrate foster care week. The event opened with a Welcome to Country by Uncle Colin Hunter Junior and Ganga Giri gave an amazing performance on the Yidaki didgeridoo.
Samantha Hauge, Chief Executive Officer of the FCAV, delivered an opening speech to carers throughout the state, thanking them for their tireless dedication and care for the children and young people in Victoria and outlining the work and advocacy of the FCAV.
It was wonderful to hear from guest speaker, Liana Buchanan, Principal Commissioner for Children and Young People.
Liana said it had become increasingly clear over her 8 years as Commissioner, not only how much foster families mean to the young people in their lives but that “we have to get better at addressing the ways that caring for children is harder than it needs to be.”
‘Children tell us, often unprompted, just how much the foster carers that they’ve lived with have meant to them. However we also hear, from carers, but also from young people with care experiences, that their carers need better support from the system so that they can better support their needs.”
You can read more on Commissioner Liana Buchanan’s speech, including the important research findings and recommendations from their “Let us Learn” inquiry.
Thanks also to the Hon. Lizzie Blandthorn MP, Minister for Children, who was unable to be at the event but spoke via video thanking carers for their valuable place in the child protection system. The Minister also outlined some funded programs including the Care Support Help Desk, a pilot tutoring program for students in care and an expansion of the Pathways to Good Health Program.
𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀 𝓎𝑜𝓊 to FCAV’s Carer Ambassadors, Fiona and Mike te Wierik, who volunteer their time and expertise to promoting and progressing the work of the FCAV. Fiona and Mike are passionate foster carers and advocates with a healthy dose of humour in everything they do. Fiona delivered an update on their work to date which includes very successful meetings with politicians and community leaders to elicit progress in foster care advocacy. Read on for Fiona and Michael’s update to carers on the day and their work on the Care Allowance Campaign.
Congratulations to this year's winners of a Commitment to Supporting Carers Award announced at the FCAV AGM and Carer Celebration on Friday 13th September, 2024 during Foster Care Week - Teagan Dunn from VACCA - Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency and Teah Edelmaier from Anchor Community Care Ltd. Both winners received multiple nominations from carers, a testament to their consistency in supporting families and foster care placements. Your dedication to supporting carers is golden in a complex system, supporting carers in their role, providing care to children and young people.
Thank you to the carers who made a nomination, it is your input that makes the awards possible. We had over 30 outstanding nominations this year making it a very difficult selection process. Congratulations again to every worker who was nominated and our winners.
The FCAV AGM was conducted including passing last year's minutes and the 2023/24 Annual Report.
Read more in the FCAV Annual Report 2024
Follow the latest foster care news and events on the Foster Care Association of Victoria facebook page.
#TomorrowsFuture #fostercareweek2024 #ValueofCarers
