The Wire

The fate of a young Chinese New Zealander, left at a Melbourne train station has focused the country’s attention on the contribution made to child welfare by foster parents. This week in New South Wales this contribution is being celebrated with Foster Care week. As ever the sector continues to struggle with a lack of both government resources and available parents willing to step up and look after children who can’t live at home with their parents. According to the CEO of the Association of Children’s Welfare Services, Andrew MacCallum, one of the main problems faced by the sector is being able to find enough long-term placements for foster children, so they can avoid the destructive cycle of moving from home to home.