Donna Crandell Emergency Carer Support Interview

Donna Crandell Emergency Carer Support Interview

Over the past decade, the number of Victorian children and young people in out-of-home care has increased by 44% - an annual growth of around 4% a year.

A recent report into social welfare agencies report found that foster carers play a pivotal role in protecting Victoria's children.

"We need to change perceptions of the outdated notion of a nuclear foster family to respond to the needs of our young people, currently Victoria is experiencing a different type of drought - a foster carer drought," said Tony Pitman, Chief Executive Officer of Victorian children's welfare agency OzChild.

The government report into the protection of Victoria's vulnerable children by the State Government of Victoria Department of Premier and Cabinet found that approximately 3,000 children and young people were placed in accommodation away from their family home. While many will return home quickly, on average, these children stay in the care of the State for about 18 months and some will move between three or more separate placements in a single year.

"We've seen a significant increase in the number of children needing care and support and as a result we need more foster carers. Traditional models of family have changed dramatically over the years and we want to let people know that foster families are no different. Foster carers aren't just mum, dad and two kids. They come in all shapes and sizes. The future of our community is dependent on our support for our young people, especially children who can no longer live at home", said Tony.

Every week, nearly 60 children and young people from across Victoria are removed from their parents by the State and placed in the care of another person or organisation because there are sound reasons to believe they are at risk of significant harm.

"To get the message out that we need more foster carers, we've developed a new online resource of information about foster parenting that provides people with the means to identify either themselves or family and friends as good candidates. Fosterparenting.org.au is just one tool being used to help dispel the myths about foster parenting and to encourage Melbournians to provide support for those in need," said Tony.

As a Victorian-based community service provider, OzChild forms part of a bigger solution to helping families and children. For more information on becoming a foster carer, making a donation, training programs and any of OzChild's services please visit www.ozchild.org.au

Interview with Donna Crandell

Question: Can you provide an overview of what you do as foster carers?

Donna Crandell: At the moment my husband Stephen and I have four children in permanent care with us. Generally we now do emergency placement which means we could receive a call at any time and they ask if we'll accept a placement and provide a few details and then we say yes or no. We have a spare room that is always ready and in the last two years we've had over 30 placements; occasionally we'll have a sibling placement and if we're desperate we'll put a mattress or a port-a-cot on the floor, for them. At one stage we had three siblings who had nowhere to go and we squeezed them in.


Question: How long have you been a carer for the four children, in permanent care?

Donna Crandell: The three older children have been in our care since early 2006 when we had not been carers for very long (about six months)! The youngest has been with us since 2007 when she was two months old.

Question: What originally inspired you to take on this role?

Donna Crandell: We saw an advert in the local paper and decided to have a look into foster care. My husband and I both love kids and I was a childcare worker. We thought that foster caring was something we might be able to do and we've been involved since 2005.


Question: You provide emergency carer support for kids needing a home urgently, do these kids stay with you on an ongoing basis?

Donna Crandell: It's usually only overnight that they stay.


Question: How many children have you cared for over the last five years?

Donna Crandell: Probably getting close to 100! Our worker recently told us that in the last two years we've had 36 children stay with us. Previous to that we didn't have stays quiet as often because we had a smaller home but we've got a bigger home now and we can accommodate more.


Question: Emergency carer support is one of the toughest types of foster care, how do you have the strength to help?

Donna Crandell: I actually don't see emergency carer support as the hardest; I believe it is the easiest. It's hard when children stay with you, for a little while and then leave which is much harder than providing a home for someone who needs a place to stay, for one night and then they are picked up the next day.


Question: Can you share one of your recent experiences in regards to emergency carer support?

Donna Crandell: We had a teenage girl who stayed with us for a couple of days, over a weekend and at first she was very quiet and withdrawn but after being in our home for a couple of days she came out of her shell a little bit and got more chatty as she was more comfortable. She came away with us, for a trip up to Bendigo (laughs).

The other kids that we have here enjoy having people come and stay and the teenager girl who stayed became a friend to the younger kids and painted their nails.


Question: What do you enjoy most about becoming a foster carer?
Donna Crandell: We enjoy knowing that we've made a difference for someone. These kids need somewhere safe to be, even if it is short term, and it's good that we are able to help them out and make their life a little bit easier even if it's just for a night.


Question: Currently what's a typical day like, for you?

Donna Crandell: An average day, for me, is very similar to a normal parent's day. I get up, feed the family, get them all ready for school or kindergarten and then do the school and kindergarten runs. I make sure everyone has lunch packed; our average day is the same as any average family.


Question: What advice do you have for other families looking at becoming foster carers?

Donna Crandell: I'd just say 'do it'! Get yourself off to one of the information sessions and find out if you're able to help out. Anyone can be a foster carer; it doesn't matter about the situation whether you are single or married.


Interview by Brooke Hunter