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. This experience, coupled with years of working with kids in high schools, a lifelong love of children and a desire to 'do good', I achieved full accreditation as a foster carer in May 2008.  Since then I have cared for nine children, both short and longer-term or ongoing placements.  I have experienced some tough times‚ and also the amazing feelings associated with knowing I could have a positive influence on these kid's lives. Outside of fostering I work full-time at La Trobe University in the Marketing Division, and have a number of qualifications including Senior First Aid Certificate and Resuscitation, Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, Graduate Certificate in Applied Business (with a Marketing & Management focus) and a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology & Sociology). I now want to be more actively involved with ensuring that we can all focus on the very reasons we got involved in the system in the first place ‚that is, the children in need.