Shannon with her own children Eliza and Hayden.
By Melissa Meehan
THE State Government has launched Foster Care Week in an attempt to recognise the work of the more than 1000 Victorians who are providing foster care for about 1660 children and teenagers.
Narre Warren and Cranbourne were included in a short list of Victorian towns and suburbs congratulated by the government for having the highest proportion of people who have opened their hearts and doors to foster kids.
Narre Warren residents Shannon and Shane Overall signed up as foster carers just over three years ago.
They describe their decision as an attempt to help kids that don’t have the same opportunities in life as their own children.
“Narre Warren is a wonderful area to live in, we just want to share it with kids who may not have access to such a wonderful lifestyle,” Mrs Overall said.
Mr and Mrs Overall say that since becoming foster carers they have been surprised by the number of the people in the community who are foster carers or are foster kids themselves.
“At some of the meetings we’ve gone to I’ve bumped into people I’ve known for years and parents of kids that go to the same school as my kids, people I never knew were part of the foster care program,” Mrs Overall said.
With three children of their own, Mrs Overall said that their kids also get satisfaction from helping others who need temporary or long term care.
“The kids are really missing the little boy that we cared for not long ago now. They just love having an extra brother or sister around,” Mrs Overall said.
Community Services Minister Lisa Neville said that whilst there was always going to be demand for foster carers she was pleased with the good work of many Victorians.
“Foster carers deserve our thanks during Foster Care Week and every day of the year for opening their homes to help make a child or young person’s life a little easier,” Ms Neville said.
Oz Child is the major provider of foster care in the Southern Metropolitan region.
For information about how to become a foster carer contact 9695 2200 or visit www.ozchild.org.au.
