[Aussiefostermum]

Hi all, I applied with an EOI back on Dec 3rd last year and we have had the home safety inspection and the pre assessment interview... over the next 2 Satadays we are completing the quality care modules... while things are different here in Australia I am having trouble finding a forum to vent/share etc and was wondering if there were a) any Aussies here
b) if I can join in here anyway lol
thanks
Sandra

[Withay]

Join in Sandra. There are people from several continents here. You might even find another Aussie. I do believe we have some. Welcome.

[Aussiefostermum]

Thanks for the warm welcome... I have posted in an Australian forum but there is hardly any response... am looking for some companionship on this journey and it seems pretty friendly in here

[itri1972]

Hi Sandra, I don't know if this counts, but my husband is Australian! We are in the US, so different "systems," as well.
I will say that American foster children do not like Vegemite as much as regular American children!!! Hubby tried to give it to the 3yo FS. Now when hubby brings out the Jar he runs! LOL

Hubby was adopted in Adelaide as an infant and his parents moved to the US. His family all moved back to Aus, but he's stuck here with me

Anyway - I know I've seen a couple of Australian adoptive parents posting on the adoptive boards. I don't know if they were fostering as well. You guys are represented here, though!
Welcome!

[Aussiefostermum]

Hi I will attest right here that I will NOT punish any FC by making them eat Vegemite... I don't eat it!!! I think its Gross!!!..... anything that smells that bad going in has gotta stink goin out ya know???!!
We would have like to adopt but it is just too hard here... only 12 local adoptions in the whole of Au last year Fostering is the only answer for us ... So nice to feel welcome ... Thank you!

[itri1972]

Lol!
I think eating vegemite is punishment, too! Hubby thinks it's a treat! LOL He wasn't punishing FS, for the record! hahahaa

Several years ago, we looked at Australian adoption (long story, step child adoption) and saw that like 6 had happened in South Australia during that year. That's kind of amazing. I guess lots of support for parents? I'll be interested to hear your fostering experience.

[mumfromoz]

Hi Aussiefostermum I'm a fairly new foster parent and also had trouble finding an Australian forum. I have found this forum to be a great source of information . Good Luck on your Fostering Journey and I hope to get to know a bit more about you.

[Aussiefostermum]

I still can't believe how hard it is to find an Australian forum... its as if its taboo to want to talk about it!
We received our confirmation letter for the course in the mail today... and they included the homework in it!! can you believe it...?? not done the modules yet and the cover letter says to start filling it in prior to the sessions lol.
Where are you mumfromoz?? I am in Queensland... We are undecided on what term of care we are going to ask from but know we would prefer under3 years.. I would really like to have the medically fragile babbies... but we will see where this journey takes us I guess... How long was the whole process for you? my neighbor took 13 months!! I will be VERY disheartened if it takes that long... Mercy have estimated more around the 6 month mark and I am already 2 months in... we will see

[mumfromoz]

I think people stopped posting on the Australian forums as they were told they risk losing their foster children by posting ( I think agency workers were browsing the forums and recognised the people that were posting). I think these Forums are great for support and advice and as long as we don't share any details of our children, families e.t.c then I don't think it should be a problem.
I am in Victoria. We went to an information night in late August 2010 and had our first home visit early October. We were told it would take about 4 months to be approved but with christmas and new year holidays it was late May when we were finally approved . My husband and I did do extra training though as we are fostering aboriginal children so we had to learn more about their culture and the stolen generation and why it is so important that they stay in touch with their culture. It has been a wonderful learning experience.
We got our first placement 8 weeks after been approved and our second placement came 12 weeks after the first had gone home. Since then we recieve about 2 calls a month ( I think they just like to get to know you first and after a couple of placements you keep getting calls).
We do short term/respite as we thought this would suit our family best so we get breaks in between and can check the kids are okay and coping with the goodbyes.
We are open to long term/ permanent and were offered twins late last year but declined as they were so close in age to my youngest daughter ( due to what we were told we felt this might cause some issues) had they of been younger we would of said yes.
Our age range is 0-9 this was recomended by our worker as my son is 9. There isn't many stay at home mums at our agency so I do get offered babies a lot.
I hope it doesn't take you too long to get approved and hope you keep us updated on your journey.

[takeuwithme96]

Australian or US Agency workers? I do not think they can do that, legally, can they??? Wow that is absolutely unethical and wrong, morally. As long as they are not posting names, abusive and inappropriate things in the message, they should be allowed to get support as free as the rest of us.

Posting names and specifics I can understand would not be right, but people can still have their own blogs. They cannot post the faces of the children or black them out on their blogs, but I haven't heard anything about this before.

Originally Posted by mumfromoz

I think people stopped posting on the Australian forums as they were told they risk losing their foster children by posting ( I think agency workers were browsing the forums and recognised the people that were posting). I think these Forums are great for support and advice and as long as we don't share any details of our children, families e.t.c then I don't think it should be a problem.
I am in Victoria. We went to an information night in late August 2010 and had our first home visit early October. We were told it would take about 4 months to be approved but with christmas and new year holidays it was late May when we were finally approved . My husband and I did do extra training though as we are fostering aboriginal children so we had to learn more about their culture and the stolen generation and why it is so important that they stay in touch with their culture. It has been a wonderful learning experience.
We got our first placement 8 weeks after been approved and our second placement came 12 weeks after the first had gone home. Since then we recieve about 2 calls a month ( I think they just like to get to know you first and after a couple of placements you keep getting calls).
We do short term/respite as we thought this would suit our family best so we get breaks in between and can check the kids are okay and coping with the goodbyes.
We are open to long term/ permanent and were offered twins late last year but declined as they were so close in age to my youngest daughter ( due to what we were told we felt this might cause some issues) had they of been younger we would of said yes.
Our age range is 0-9 this was recomended by our worker as my son is 9. There isn't many stay at home mums at our agency so I do get offered babies a lot.
I hope it doesn't take you too long to get approved and hope you keep us updated on your journey.