SHANE Chislett insists he and his wife Renee are no different from the next person, but he’s wrong.
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The Chisletts are foster carers who have opened their home and their hearts to children in need.
As Foster Care Week kicks off, the Chisletts want to encourage other people to become foster carers.
After already having offered respite, emergency and long-term foster care to seven other children, ranging from one to 13 years old, the Chisletts recently became the foster parents of a five-year-old girl with special needs.
The challenge of raising the little girl, and maintaining their own marriage and the happiness of their four children, is not lost on the couple who say they take life as foster carers “one day at a time”.
“We try and keep things the same as they’ve always been, you’ve got to be careful that your household doesn’t change,” Mrs Chislett said.
The Chisletts had been thinking about becoming foster carers for some time before eventually signing on with Anglicare earlier this year.
“We wanted to give something back and help kids in need of care,” Mrs Chislett said.
Since becoming carers the couple have taken in children with a range of needs, including children who are unwell.
“We’ve got a lot of love to give, and we love kids, but it takes a lot of time and dedication especially with sick children,” Mrs Chislett said.
Mr Chislett said it had been rewarding to see their foster daughter’s progress since joining their family six weeks ago.
“She was pretty sick when she came to us but we can already see her growth and development in that time,” he said.
Mrs Chislett said the couple’s children had been supportive of their parents’ decision to become foster parents and had been quick to welcome the children into their family.
“They treated them like brothers and sisters,” she said.
Mrs Chislett said she’d encourage others to become foster carers if they wanted to make a positive difference to a child's life
“You just need time, patience and dedication,” she said.
“Anglicare is extremely supportive of its carers and if you need help or need advice they’re very good.”
Mr Chislett said the family had no regrets about their decision to become foster parents.
“I don’t see us as anything special, we just opened our home to some kids that need it,” he said.
Anglicare Western’s out-of-home care manager Danielle Davis-Gerrey said the organisation’s carers’ “commitment to continuous learning on their fostering journey is inspiring and commendable”.
“So many of our carers are keen to attend the workshops and courses we offer to develop their understanding and skill to provide the very best care they can for children who have needs beyond the normal parenting journey,” she said.
Anglicare supports 45 foster care households in the western region.
For more information about becoming a foster carer with Anglicare call 6369 9500.
tracey.prisk@fairfaxmedia.com.au
