Foster and Kinship Carers Association Tasmania

Nothing lasts longer in our memories than a wonderful story. Even better if they are true ones told by extraordinary people with real lived experience.

Tasmania has a disproportionate number of children in out-of-home care and society still stigmatises them and their carers. So we set about changing perceptions with a collection of stories presented in a keepsake publication.

We visited carers in person, comfortable either in their own homes or local parks and gardens. Corrie was first to be interviewed, recounting a quite incredible lifetime of caring including for five of her own biological children. The book was launched a week after her 90th birthday.

What emerges from these deeply personal reflections is the reality of “being there” for children who have no control over the conditions into which they are born. They need somebody in their lives to be available, present and non-judgemental. Hence the title of this book was easily settled.

Thank you to Cameron and Connor who went north, south, east and west to create these lovely portraits.

I knew almost nothing about the out-of-home care system before this project. Talking to friends and clients about it, I soon discovered that ignorance is wide spread. Resourcing and recruitment remain the primary challenge but if we can break down persistent perceptions about the young people and their extraordinary carers by getting true stories out into the world we might go some way to effect positive change.

Ty Bukewitsch

Another project…

MHLET