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Ms Daykin said people from all walks of life could become a foster carer, so long as they\u2019re above the age of 21.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe difference you can make in the lives of these vulnerable children is so good,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhether it\u2019s one night or a week, these children will remember what you\u2019ve been able to offer them forever and I think that\u2019s really important for some of these kids who get moved around so often because of the shortage of carers,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a sentiment that high school art teacher and foster carer of two years Alanah Brand echoes.<\/p>\n
Most recently, she cared for a young girl for 19 months and has provided both short and long-term care for eight children.<\/p>\n
\u201cI decided to become a foster carer because through my job as a teacher I could see that there was a need for foster carers and that there were lots of students in group housing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cKids are our future and we want them to have the best possible start in life and it\u2019s just a bit heartbreaking that some kids don\u2019t get that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Brand said people should consider becoming a foster carer \u201cbecause you\u2019re caring for children when they\u2019re most vulnerable.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen children are away from their families, they\u2019re in their most vulnerable place and that\u2019s when they need the most love,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about you loving them and helping them through it because it\u2019s really hard for kids to not be with their families.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think there\u2019s a lot of joy to be had as well. All the kids I\u2019ve cared for, I\u2019ve really loved them and I think they\u2019ve enriched my life as well.\u201d<\/p>\n