Foster care families come in all different shapes and sizes, and many foster carers are raising their own children in the home. Lize and Sean share their fostering story and how they involve their own children in their journey fostering.  

Tell us about yourselves... 

My name is Lize, and my husband’s name is Sean. We have been foster carers for around five years, two of which have been with our foster care agency, Lighthouse Foundation. 

Originally from South Africa, we now live in Melbourne with our three young children. I work as a paediatric occupational therapist, and Sean works in the construction industry. 

How did you decide to become foster carers? 

When we were first married, we considered how best to give back to our community. Feeling privileged to have our own home and a lot of love to share, we decided to become foster carers. 

Through my work as an occupational therapist, I had encountered children who had experienced trauma or developmental challenges, and I knew we could help. We decided to provide short-term and respite care because it best suited our family of five. 

What support have you received from your agency and community? 

Our agency, Lighthouse Foundation, has been phenomenal. They check in regularly, and we reach out whenever we need. We know the entire Lighthouse team and can call them at the drop of a hat. Sometimes, there are different behaviours and feelings that children might experience coming into a new home, and we have found the training we received extremely helpful in navigating those feelings. 

It's also been great to share our fostering journey with our family, friends, and community, knowing we have people to lean on and debrief with after a hard day. 

How have your own children been involved in your fostering journey? 

Our children love fostering and have responded very positively to it. They are always excited when our foster care agency calls with the possibility of a new placement. 

We love to see how accepting our own children are of the different children who come to stay with us. It’s very important for us as parents to give our children the chance to see that life isn’t always sunshine and roses and that other children face different challenges. 

Our children are as much a part of the journey as we are. At the end of each placement, we make sure to do a family check-in to see how each of them feels and if they wish to continue. There is a great need for foster carers, but it's okay to say no at times and put your own family first. If the kids need a break, we make sure to respect that—but so far, they have never said they wanted to stop. 

What advice do you have for prospective foster carers? 

People often ask how we manage to say goodbye at the end of a placement. While it can be sad, it’s all about having the right mindset. Our role is to give children in foster care happy moments during the time we have them, and you can find comfort in knowing you provided a safe space for that period. Some of the most rewarding moments in our fostering journey have been when we’ve been able to build positive relationships with birth families, when appropriate. 

There is an opportunity for all sorts of people to become foster carers. If you have a passion for kids, just give it a go. It’s the most rewarding thing you will ever do, and the good times far outweigh any of the challenges. 

Interested in becoming a foster carer? 

Whether you’re single, partnered, young or old, working full-time or not working at all, from any religion or in a same-sex relationship, if you have a spare bedroom and want to play a part in a child’s life, then you’ve got what it takes to get started. 

To learn more about becoming a foster carer, give us a call at 1800 013 088 or enquire online.