Hi, my name is Michael te Wierik and I work as a Senior Quality Engineer for National Australia Bank, and I am Fiona te Wierik and I work as a Nursing and Quality Improvements Manager for 6 medical practices and we live life as foster carers.
We have been foster carers in Victoria since 2007. During that time we have had long term placements (months to years), short term placements (days to weeks), emergency placements (overnight or part of a day) and respite care (assisting other carers with a much needed break).
Whether the kids have come for a short stay or a longer placement, we have opened our home and shared our lives with over 80 kids over the last 18 years, building relationships with other carers, the children and the agencies we have worked with to provide care.
Our goal has always been to contribute back to our community and provide a safe and nurturing environment for the children in our care.
We are both long time advocates for improvements to the foster care system for carers and those in care. We love being carers but during our time we have often experienced frustration.
That frustration can come in many forms and when we were asked by Foster Care Association Victoria to volunteer as Ambassadors for the carers in Victoria we saw a great opportunity to work with the people and groups that can provide some relief for those stresses.
An ambassador is an advocate for a group, in this case foster carers, so we will be working to establish and maintain context and collaboration between carers, the FCAV and the various child and youth family services in Victoria including the Department.
As Ambassadors for FCAV we will act as representatives of all foster carers in Victoria. We will help carers and FCAV bring issues to the forefront of discussion that are most important to carers.
As we continue in foster care, we feel we can offer valuable insight into the issues faced by Victorian carers and bring their views to discussions and issues being championed by FCAV on behalf of carers.
We will be a voice, not just in the area of Child youth and Family services, but to the state government to effect positive changes for all foster carers.
We have tried in various ways to be a voice for foster carers before, and with the attention we received in 2022 for Mike’s role as Victorian Father of the Year we have been able to highlight some issues and bring some attention where it has been lacking.
What FCAV allows is a more consistent platform from which to help our community and our fellow carers.
To be advocates for improvements to the system, to be a voice for our fellow carers who open their homes and hearts to children in need, and bring first-hand carer views to the conversations that can make a difference to the carer’s ability to deliver ongoing care.
Already, we have spoken on ABC radio, to journalists and 'The Age', to bring awareness to the carer allowance campaign. We have also reached out to local politicians to advocate for carers at a state level. Currently we are establishing a partnership with large organisations to promote this campaign and place pressure on the state government to change carer allowances in Victoria.
I also hope that this role provides you, the foster carers, with an avenue to communicate concerns and real-life issues in foster care. We would like to be your voice and encourage you to communicate your frustrations in hope that we can all effect positive change.
Of course, we would also like to utilise this platform to celebrate carers, the children in our care with the hope to inspire others to become foster carers. We look forward to working with you all.
Michael and Fiona te Wierik, Carer Ambassadors, FCAV
Fiona and Mike te Wierik undertake public speaking and engage with media, politicians and other key decision makers in their role as Ambassadors. They are advocates for foster care, for carers and children in young people in the foster care system. Their goals are to represent carer challenges and highlight issues faced by Victorian foster carers building an awareness for change.
Whilst they are not able to address individual challenges (for case specific issues please contact the Carer Assistance Team), as Ambassadors, Fiona and Mike are keen to hear from all carers, no matter the challenge. You can email them at ambassador@fcav.org.au
