South Australia is stepping up efforts to recruit foster and kinship carers from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to help children and young people in care maintain connections to their culture, religion and community.
The Department for Child Protection has strengthened initiatives to attract and support carers from multicultural communities, while organisations such as AnglicareSA and Lutheran Care are playing a similar role.
At AnglicareSA, 16 households from culturally diverse backgrounds have provided care to around 30 young people over the past year, covering emergency, short-term and long-term placements. Nine additional families are currently undergoing assessment and training. A new team member with specific cultural knowledge and language skills has joined Foster Care Services, bringing the number of staff with cultural expertise to five.
Masooma, who arrived in Adelaide as a refugee in 2016 with her son and daughter, recently became the carer for a young Muslim girl. She highlights the importance of sharing religion and culture with the children in her care.
There remains a steady demand for carers from South Sudanese, Congolese, Afghan, Syrian, Iranian and Iraqi backgrounds, as well as for South Australians from Nepal, Burma, Bhutan, India and Pakistan. Matching carers and children according to cultural, language and faith backgrounds can help children thrive when they cannot safely live with their parents.
The Multicultural Services team is affiliated with around 150 community groups and leaders across the state. Carers and the team work closely with community sector practitioners to ensure cultural considerations are central when placing a child.
Katrine Hildyard said, “It is really important for young people who cannot safely live at home to remain connected to their religion, culture and community. Carers like Masooma open their hearts and homes and encourage others to follow suit. Their generosity changes lives.”
Nagita Kaggwa, Multicultural Services Manager at the Department for Child Protection, said the carers needed reflect migration trends in South Australia. “These children may be from refugee or asylum seeker backgrounds, speak English as a second language or follow a different faith. We are working hard to grow community engagement and educate communities about child protection in Australia.”
Masooma added, “It is very important for every child to identify their culture and feel connected. There are two key aspects: religion and culture. Our household has become happier and more active since our little girl arrived. I have felt supported by AnglicareSA and the Department for Child Protection with language and cultural supports along the way.”
South Australians from a culturally diverse background interested in becoming foster carers can call 1300 2 FOSTER (1300 2 367 837) or visit www.fostercare.sa.gov.au.
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