Wesley Mission Annual Report 2020 - Flipbook - Page 24
Called to fill their home with children
Family restoration begins in Shauna’s loving arms
When Shauna met “her little person”, as she calls him, at just five days
old, she went above and beyond to connect with his birth mother.
As Shauna’s foster son grew, so did his birth
mother in confidence. And at 16 months,
restoration day finally came.
Not long after Shauna began caring for her foster
child, the out-of-home care system changed to
focus on restoration. While Shauna felt she was
losing a piece of her heart, she knew deep down
this was the right decision for her foster son.
In 19/20, Wesley Dalmar
849
accredited
foster carers
“I kept having these dreams when I was young, about a house where
I was looking after all these children,” Helen remembers.
“I think if it didn’t hurt, I wouldn’t have been doing it
properly,” she shares.
But Helen put her youthful dreams aside. Life
continued. Helen then met her husband James and
together they had three children. They were content,
and during that season Helen thought she was living
out her dream.
While he no longer lives with Shauna, he’s still “her little
person”. “When he left I said to him, ‘our home will be
forever yours’,” Shauna says.
Wesley Dalmar Carer Recruitment Officer Kim says, “It’s
the ideal picture of restoration to be able to maintain
those relationships… Shauna was able to impart her
knowledge to help the birth mum with her son.”
Restored
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Supported
children to
their families
76
children in
kinship care
Then years later, Helen’s recurring dreams came
back. And at the same time, Helen received a flyer
in the mail about a foster care information evening
through Wesley Dalmar.
Placed
427
children with one or
more of their siblings
Reflecting on her dream and the timing of the flyer,
Helen knew somehow God was involved.
“I’ve always had a desire to care for children, to work
with children. And looking back, I feel it really was a
calling from God to do that,” she says.
And the rest is history. Helen’s dreams are now
reality. For the last 18 years Helen and James have
been foster carers for Wesley Dalmar. Alongside
their three biological children, they’ve adopted three
children and currently care for two foster children.
“I love having a house full of children. They’re all part
of our family,” Helen says.
For Helen and James, their foster and adopted
children have brought more joy into their lives than
they ever expected. And while the days are
sometimes long, and there’s always plenty to juggle
between parenting duties, household chores and
work, Helen and James lean into their faith for
strength and guidance.
“That’s one of the reasons we are with Wesley
Dalmar,” Helen says. “It’s lovely to be able to share
that with these children – about a God who cares
for them.”
While Helen and James chose Wesley Dalmar
because of their shared Christian values, Helen
says they continue to stay with Wesley Mission
because of the constant care and support they
receive.
A lifetime of caring
At the centre of Mike’s world are his three boys. “They’re my boys.
I love them to bits. They’re my family,” Mike says.
For over 20 years, Mike, who’s now 60, has devoted
his life to caring for foster children. Initially thrown
into the deep end, at one-point Mike ended up with
eight children in his care. But it was in that moment,
Mike found his life calling.
“Changing nappies at two in the morning, that’s what
inspired me to quit my full-time job and become a
full-time carer.”
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Over his lifetime, Mike says he’s conservatively cared
for 100 children. But it’s three long-term placements
that remain close to Mike’s heart. “I’m their dad, and
I’ll be there for as long as they need me to be.”
For the last seven years, Mike has been supported by
Wesley Dalmar. “I’ve survived because Kim’s (Wesley
Mission caseworker) been my go-to guy. He’s been
my rock,” Mike says.
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