For this married couple, fostering has been nothing short of life-changing. With no biological children of their own “just our two furbabies,” they’ve spent the past three years opening their home and hearts to children in need.

“I work four days a week and my husband works five,” Michelle explains. “We now have one foster child living with us, and over the years we’ve supported twelve kids altogether, aged anywhere from 16 months to 12 years.”

Their journey into foster care began long before they ever filled out an application. “I always wanted to adopt a child from overseas from my parents’ country of birth,” she recalls. “But I realised how difficult and full of barriers that process was.”

Becoming a social worker changed everything. “During my placement, I learned just how many kids were in out-of-home care. That’s when I knew I would be a foster carer one day.” Nearly two decades later, that calling became reality. “My husband and I were talking about fostering, and after learning about very young children with no homes and some even ending up in group homes, we realised we couldn’t sit on the fence anymore. We took action to become accredited carers and never looked back.”

The rewards have been profound. “Children learn so quickly,” she says. “It’s amazing what a home, love, fun, stability, consistency and safety can do. All the kids we’ve supported have come from severe abuse, neglect and trauma, and we’ve seen rapid progression in all of them — it’s been miraculous to see.”

Fostering has also transformed their own lives in unexpected ways. “It’s had a huge impact,” she reflects. “It’s incredibly rewarding as well as challenging. It’s helped us live more in the moment, enjoy the simple things, be spontaneous, have more fun, keep fit and build resilience.”

Their experience has broadened their understanding of life, too. “We’ve supported babies through to teens, so we’ve worked closely with maternal nurses, GPs, childcare centres, therapists, schools and other professionals. You have to learn as you go and educate yourself to stay on the front foot. I love learning, so I’ve really enjoyed that. It’s also helped me in my professional life.”

When asked what advice she’d give to someone thinking about fostering, her answer comes easily. “You won’t regret it — it’s the best decision we’ve ever made. Take your time and befriend a range of carers. Get involved in the fostering community. Find a foster family you can walk alongside and support each other. Choose the right agency and ask lots of questions. Be prepared for your life to change forever! The joy the children bring is incredible, and seeing their progress is so heart-warming. You’ll never look at life the same way again — it really does make you more grateful and compassionate.”

Like any carer, they’ve faced challenges along the way, but their approach is grounded and proactive. “We keep open and transparent communication with our agency and utilise support from FCAV. We ask for assistance when needed and try to stay educated. Finding your village — your foster carer community — is so important. What motivates us is the positive influence we can have. Seeing the kids’ progression and the bond we build with them is so special.”

She’s also passionate about the need for better systemic support. “Reimbursement definitely needs a rapid increase to keep up with the cost of living,” she says. “More resources are needed to help set up placements, transport and therapy. Carers often find out about supports after the fact, and the kids really need access to affordable therapies to help with their trauma. Honestly, I believe foster caring should be a paid role with superannuation and leave — many of us would love to do it full-time but can’t afford to. If we didn’t have to work, we’d probably have three or four foster kids. Juggling work and foster care is a real challenge, especially with little ones who get sick often.”

Despite the challenges, their passion shines through. “It’s not always easy,” she admits, “but it’s absolutely worth it. Fostering has changed our lives — and hopefully, it’s changed the lives of the children who’ve come through our door.”