Media Release
Thursday 9^th June 2022  

My Forever Family NSW supports, trains and advocates for foster and kinship carers, guardians and adoptive parents who bring stability to the lives of the 16,160 children and young people living in out-of-home care in the state of NSW. The Carer Recognition Awards honours exceptional carers who have been nominated across the state and includes a special message from the NSW Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services, the Hon. Natasha Maclaren-Jones MP.

My Forever Family NSW holds the annual Carer Recognition Awards as part of its mission to provide support to carers and recognise the valuable role they play in the lives of children and young people. A total of 19 winners across four categories have been awarded for their dedication to providing safe, nurturing homes for some of the 16,160 children and young people in out-of-home care in NSW.

The Carer Recognition Awards recognises the valuable role that carers play in the lives of children and young people and shines a spotlight on those who give so much. The awards are open to all authorised carers in NSW, and nominations were submitted by peers, agencies, families and even young people in care.

One of the award winners, Stefannie, cares for 8 children in total, 3 who are through out-of-home care. She was nominated by one of the young people in her care who says:

“I don’t know how she does it, but she makes sure there is food on the table, clean clothes on our backs, a warm bed to sleep in and a place where we feel loved and included. Mum has provided us with more than any child dreams of even more than toys and lollies, she has provided support, love, and courage. There are not enough words in the whole English language to explain how much she has done for so many children, whether that’s long-term or just overnight emergency placements.”

These sentiments were echoed throughout the entries and reflect the exceptional quality of carers in the state. Our Carer Recognition Awards serve to recognise the incredibly valuable role that carers play in the lives of children and young people and thank them for all that they do.

NSW Minister for Families and Communities and Minister for Disability Services Natasha Maclaren-Jones said these awards recognise the contribution of foster, relative and kinship carers across NSW as well as guardians and those adopting.

 “These Awards are an important way to highlight carers in our communities and the valuable contribution they make by providing a home and caring family for a child in need,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.

My Forever Family NSWis a government-funded program operated by Adopt Change to recruit, support, train and advocate for carers in NSW. Adopt Change CEO Renee Carter says, “The last couple of years have been challenging for everyone, yet despite this, carers across the state have continued to nurture and support the children and young people in their care. The Carer Recognition Awards are a way to say thank you to carers for the vital role they play in the lives of children and young people, and in our community as a whole. The awards recognise their dedication to providing safe and nurturing homes for children across NSW.”

Click here for more information on the awards and to see the full list of winners.

You can find more information about My Forever Family NSW at www.myforeverfamily.org.au/

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For all media enquiries or to request an interview, please contact:
My Forever Family NSW Marketing & Communications team
P: 1300 782 975
E: media@myforeverfamily.org.au