I have worked in child welfare for fifteen years after completing a Bachelor of·Science and Bachelor of Social Work. I have also been a foster carer with Berry Street Victoria for over 10 years, offering emergency and respite care, including respite care to a sibling group of two boys for the past 10 years. Prior to my role as Executive Officer at FCAV, which I have been employed in for the past two years, I worked for Child Protection and not-for-profit organisations - MacKillop·(home-based·& residential care), and Whitelion
About Us 
Board of Directors & EO
Board of Directors & EO
Board of Directors & CEO
I have worked in child welfare for fifteen years after completing a Bachelor of·Science and Bachelor of Social Work. I have also been a foster carer with Berry Street Victoria for over 10 years, offering emergency and respite care, including respite care to a sibling group of two boys for the past 10 years. Prior to my role as Executive Officer at FCAV, which I have been employed in for the past two years, I worked for Child Protection and not-for-profit organisations - MacKillop·(home-based·& residential care), and Whitelion
I am 46 years old and live in Mitcham with my husband Ian and two adult children Sharlene (22) and Rachael (19). We have been a foster family since July 2003 though Anglicare Maroondah and Box Hill Offices. My training has been in secretarial and office administration work.
I have enjoyed being a carer for 23 of my 45 years and have been the FCAV Secretary for the last 2 years. I am a foster and permanent carer and assist as a lead trainer with Good Shepherd Y&FS and coordinate the pre-accreditation training and an infant support group for our agency. I also sit as a regular member of our agencies Carer Accreditation Panel.
I became a foster carer in 1985 with a love of children & a desire to make a difference. I was a foster carer for 2 years before taking a long break with the arrival of more of my own children. In 1995 my family was again ready to take up the challenge of fostering with Oz Child. I have a total of 17 years experience, looking after over 60 children.
My mother Lindy started providing foster care in 2001, and I was accredited as a foster carer in 2006. Since our family first became involved in foster care we have provided care to 25+ children and young people in need of emergency, short, long term and permanent care. I have worked in the sector since 2006 recruiting, training, assessing and supporting carers. I now work as the Senior Policy & Project Leader for Home-Based Care at
After returning from the USA in 2000 where I worked at a camp that provided general personal, physical and emotional care and support on a one to one basis for children and adults with both cognitive and/or physical disabilities, I decided that I needed to try to continue making a difference at home.
I have been a carer for over 30 years, for last 21 years with Oz Child in Dandenong, providing reception, respite and both short and long term foster care. Most of my placements are short term, although I have had two long term placements. I do a lot of training with Oz Child who provide monthly training sessions and believe this contributes to improving life for the children in my care and assists in helping other carers.
I have been a registered carer with Berry Street since 1992 and have cared for over 300 children over a large age range. I was approved as a Therapeutic Foster Carer in May 2008, and have extensive experience in providing short and long term, emergency and respite care. My husband and I have four children of our own and are currently providing care to two therapeutic foster care children.
This is my sixth year in as a permanent carer to my first foster child who is now 15, and my second year in with two of his siblings (a boy aged 13, a girl aged 12) as their long term therapeutic foster carer. I’ve been a foster carer with Westcare and now with Anglicare. I’ve also worked in the field as a social worker in child protection, family work and out of home care (Anglicare, Wesley, and Oz Child).
My career has been focused on supporting individuals and organisations to be their best. FCAV supports carers to give children the opportunity to be their best, and I’m delighted to be working with them as they continue this excellent work. I’ve seen the joy and challenges that foster care can bring to families and with a background in education and human resources I feel very aligned to the goals of FCAV.
I am a pro bono solicitor at Russell Kennedy working in the Public Law, Litigation and Aged Care Group. I worked in child care in various roles for six years prior to my becoming a solicitor. I love children and I am passionate about child welfare.
My husband Brian and our family Phil, Terence, Lawrence, Beau and Andrew have been foster carers since 1993. We first started after seeing an advertisement in the local paper. We mainly did short-term respite placements with North West Foster Care. In 1997, we moved to Birchip and continued to work with Wimmera Uniting Care. Doing mostly respite care, but with one four year placement that eventually turned into permanent care. After a boundary change, we moved to Mallee Family Care in Swan Hill, Mildura.
Our Purpose
Advocate for foster carers, their families and the children in their care to ensure all
voices are heard;
Work in partnership with agencies and the sector to provide an improved foster care
system;
Provide support and learning for carers directly, through various forums, or in
partnership with agencies;
Build FCAV intelligence in order to be identified as a recognised and viable authority
in the sector;
Promote the awareness of foster caring to assist in public understanding of the role
and agency recruitment of carers;
Our Vision
To provide information, support and advocacy to carers that ensures they can offer
children and young people in their care a healing environment which assists the child or
young person to reach their full potential.
Latest News
Upcoming Events
| Three day training for MAC, MVAC, MASP & MFC carers and staff in Mildura Tue, 14th Feb, 2012 |
| FCAV Regional Training: Morwell 16 February 2012 Thu, 16th Feb, 2012 |
| Three day training for Berry Street carers - 24 February, 2 March & 9 March 2012 Fri, 24th Feb, 2012 |