More foster carers are needed across the region to help care for people who cannot live with their families.

Brophy Foster Care recruitment trainer and assessment worker Madelynn Crimmin and senior practitioner Rebecca Gilmore work towards positive outcomes for all involved in the foster care system.

Ms Gilmore said there were varied reasons why children came into care.

She said it was the last option if other suitable arrangements could not be made with significant others including extended family members.

“Everyone works as a team to bring families back together,” she said.

“The best outcome is when a child returns back to family.”

Ms Crimmin said potential foster carers took the first step by making an inquiry at Brophy by telephone or online.

“Generally people may take 12 months to think about it before making contact,” she said.

“Anybody can be a foster parent, there is no set criteria. We have families, single people, married people, working/not working people, different cultures, same-sex attracted, different religions, single parents, people with no children and people with lots of children.”

Those interested in foster caring are encouraged to consider the impact on their family and partners, before an initial meeting with the Brophy team in the potential carer’s own home.

“The idea is throughout the whole process is that we give people as much information as we can to make an informed decision,” Ms Crimmin said.

“The process can take about four months. We encourage people to attend the two days of training, which is rolled out by all foster care agencies in Victoria. Once training is completed there is an assessment interview process with a set range of questions.” 

Police, working with children, health, home environment and referee check are also completed.

A report is then filed to an accreditation panel who make the final decision on who becomes a carer.

Ms Crimmin said the process could sound daunting, but there was plenty of support available.

“We don’t expect people to have all the answers,” she said.

“We encourage people to ask lots of questions. We work with children from zero to 18 years. We work with carers to figure out what their preferences might be, and see what will fit in best with their family. There are different varieties of care, from emergency, short term, long term and respite.”