Sarah Witty, Federal Member for Melbourne, combines professional expertise with a personal commitment to supporting foster carers and the children and young people in their care.
Sarah is a steadfast advocate, amplifying the voices and experiences of foster carers across Victoria. She has extensive experience in social policy and community advocacy, alongside a deeply personal connection to foster care.
A foster carer for over 10 years, Sarah also served as a dedicated board member of the Foster Care Association of Victoria before entering Parliament. The FCAV Board is proud to see her in such a significant role, where her knowledge and passion continue to make an impact. Her experience reflects a profound understanding of the challenges, rewards, and vital contribution foster carers make every day. We were honoured to have Sarah as Guest Speaker at the FCAV Carer Celebration and AGM on Friday 19th September during Foster Care Week 2025.
"Some of you may already know my journey into foster care. I shared it in my first speech when I stood up in parliament for the first time. I welcome you to check it out if you want to find out a little bit more. But my journey is one that has been shaped by personal grief however, it was also shaped by the journey of my mother. She lost her mother when she was very young and was removed from her father and spent some time living with aunties until her father got remarried and she came back to shape a family together. So that journey of hers also influenced me and brought me here to become a foster carer.
She spent the first few years alone and her experience and that of her siblings, was something that stayed with me very strongly. It opened my eyes to what it means to be separated from your family, to feel like you don't quite belong, and to rely on the kindness of others to find your footing. That legacy of love, loss, and resilience is definitely something that has brought me here to become a foster carer and then led me into parliament."
"We all have stories of difficult placements. One of the most difficult times in my life, not just fostering, but of my life, was when a brother and sister came to me, a newborn and a toddler. I got the call late afternoon. We all know that call; when it's late afternoon, and you feel like you're the last opportunity. The desperation in the voice of the person on the other end of the phone, well, you know, they're not really trying to put pressure on you, but here it comes. Anyway, of course, I said yes, as you do.
At the time, my husband and I were both working. The children were at our doorstep before we got home from work. They were waiting for us. All we had was one portable cot. They came with just enough nappies, a little bit of clothing, formula to get through the night, but we had no pram, no car seat, no way of getting to the supermarket, and we were in crisis. The older child had experienced trauma and would scream with such distress every time we put him down. It was, quite frankly, overwhelming.
We didn't know what we were going to do. We were doing the feed in the middle of the night. We were physically and emotionally exhausted, desperate for help. But under those conditions, it felt like help was taking forever to arrive. We received car seats after a couple of days and put a call out through our local Facebook page to receive a pram. I was lucky enough to have a baby shop nearby, and I went into that shop to get some items. When the shop assistant said to me, "Can I help you?" I broke down. I was exhausted and overwhelmed. I told her my story, and amazingly she filled my arms with all the goodies I needed and sent me on my way. Shortly after that, the agency came for a visit and arranged for a couple of cots and some other essential items.
We were in survival mode and didn't even know or have the energy or brain power to ask for the things we needed. And that was just the first couple of weeks.
I know in this room if I was to share the rest of the story with you, you'll all be nodding because you've experienced something similar. That experience and so many others have made me realise I want to do more than just care for the kids. I wanted to advocate and get better outcomes for carers and the children that they welcome into their homes. I'm so grateful to be given that opportunity to do just that."
"I look forward to continuing to work with FCAV so we can all look after our kids in our care better. After all, that is why we put up our hands to be foster carers, so we can look after the children that need our help, not so we can deal with the system. I'm proud of my time on the FCAV board. The board is made up of dedicated, passionate people, people who, like me, have lived experience and a deep desire to make things better for the children we care for. It's a place where we acknowledge the pain and the flaws of the system, but we don't just stop there. We work to fix it.
Whether you're just starting out on your journey as a foster carer or you've been doing it for years as I have, there are always new challenges and new surprises. Let's be honest, I'm not talking about the kids here. I'm talking about the system. The one that too often makes our jobs harder instead of easier.
As I step into this role as the federal member for Melbourne, I'm mindful of the big job ahead, the urgent reforms we need to push for. I'm looking forward to working with stakeholders towards outcomes that will benefit all carers and the kids in their care.
I know there's a lot to do, and I might feel overwhelmed, but I've been overwhelmed before and I got through it. I might only have a few years to do it, but I'm determined to make every moment count. And if I'm lucky enough to be re-elected, I'm not going to stop there. I'm going to keep going.
This responsibility never ends. Whether caring for children in my home or advocating in parliament, I'm committed to moving us forward to where we need to be. Thank you all for being here today. Thank you for the work you do, the love you give, and the hope that you keep alive. Together, we are stronger, and together we are fighting for the children that need us most."
Sarah Witty MP, Member for Melbourne
