A Welcome Message From The President of the Foster Care Association of Western Australia
I would like to pay tribute to the Nyoongar people who are the traditional owners of the land on which we will all gather for the Conference.
The song “You Raise Me Up: to all that I can be” reflects what this Australia-wide Foster Care Conference is all about. Celebrating and enriching foster carers and related service workers who raise children up to realise their full potential, to make a difference in their lives.
As President and on behalf of the Foster Care Association of Western Australia and all our Conference Sponsors I warmly welcome you to our website and invite you to join us in the 2009 Australian Foster Care Conference. This is a major event for the organisation and for the first time will offer both a full programme for adults while also running a Young People’s programme and offering day care to the under 6’s.
Foster Carers have been entrusted with Australia’s most valuable resource – children – so we have to consider the question, “how do we raise these children to be the best that they can be?”. As a parent I’ve asked this question about my own children and that’s hard enough! But to consider raising other people’s children and the complexities that brings, takes this question to a whole different level. This Conference will give delegates and other guests the opportunity to meet and to reflect on how we can address the many challenges that face Foster Care in the 2000’s. We will have a wide range of speakers offering an array of interesting ideas for Foster Carers and those supporting them in looking after other people’s children.
I strongly urge those of you who have that investment and passion – foster carers, foster children, birth children of foster carers, workers, policy makers and researchers – to attend the Conference. It will give you the opportunity to learn from others, share experiences and ideas, hopefully relax and enjoy while at the same time giving thought and consideration to that question “how do we raise these children to be the best that they can be?”.
Be involved, be active and register to attend the Conference. If you have any queries about the Conference please don’t hesitate to “contact us”:mailto:info@fostercareconference.com
Finally I would like to express my sincere thanks to our sponsors and the small group of dedicated individuals who have given their time to the planning committee and in making sure we put on an event to remember.
I look forward to seeing you there.
