This Foster and Kinship Carer Week, KARI has been reflecting on the incredible work of our foster and kinship carers, the people who open their homes and hearts to children and young people. It’s also a moment to listen to the voices of children themselves, sharing how their carers help them feel safe, calm, and understood.
At KARI, the first priority is always to keep children connected to family, kin, and culture. Kinship care, with grandparents, aunties, uncles, or close family friends, is where children thrive, surrounded by the people and stories that matter most to them. To support this, KARI operates an in-house Family Research Unit, helping to identify family and kinship placements so children can remain where they belong.
When family placements aren’t possible, foster carers step forward to provide safety and stability, always supported by KARI’s Cultural Unit, which works alongside carers to strengthen cultural identity and connection. This cultural support is central to ensuring Aboriginal children grow up with pride in who they are and where they come from. Many young people in KARI’s care go on to develop a stronger connection to culture than their peers, a point of pride for carers and staff alike.
For Jayden (not his real name), now 21, those supports, and the time given to him by his carers, changed everything.
“I used to think people would always give up on me. But my carers never did. They gave me a place where I felt safe, and they taught me how to believe in myself. Even on the days I was angry or shut down, they stayed. That made all the difference.”
Jayden remembers the small, consistent acts of care, lifts to school, someone waiting at the dinner table, encouragement when he thought he couldn’t keep going.
“It wasn’t just about having a roof over my head. It was about unconditional love. They listened to me, they talked about Mob, and they kept reminding me that I mattered. That all shaped who I am today.”
The difference at KARI doesn’t stop when a child leaves care. Through our Youth Engagement Program, young people are supported as they transition into adulthood, learning life skills, maintaining cultural connection, and continuing to have positive role models by their side.
KARI is also proud to be a leading partner in the ACCO Transition Project, endorsed by the NSW Government. This project ensures Aboriginal children in out-of-home care are case-managed by Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs), as they are best placed to support Aboriginal children in culturally appropriate ways.
For Rita (not her real name), who recently transitioned from another agency, the change has been overwhelmingly positive.
“I was nervous about moving across at first. I thought it might be complicated, or that the kids would struggle. But it was actually so smooth. KARI made sure I felt supported from the beginning, and I quickly realised how beneficial it was for the children. They’re more connected to culture now, and I feel like I have a stronger network too. It was the right move.”
“When carers transition to KARI, the whole family becomes part of our family. It’s not just the Aboriginal children in the home who are supported, KARI walks alongside the entire household, offering consistency, cultural connection, and a sense of stability for everyone. Stories like Jayden’s and carers like Rita’s show the lifelong impact of both kinship and foster care. The love, patience and consistency carers provide don’t just change childhoods, they shape futures. And with the right supports, that impact continues long after children turn 18,”said Andrew Luzzi, KARI Regional PSP Manager.
While the need for more Aboriginal carers remains urgent, KARI welcomes carers of all backgrounds who are committed to providing children with stability, love, and the chance to grow strong. Every child deserves someone who will make the time to care.
This Foster and Kinship Carer Week, KARI celebrates every carer who gives their time, love, and commitment. Their impact lives on in the lives of young people like Jayden, long after the children in their care have grown.
If you’ve ever thought about becoming a foster or kinship carer, now is the time. You could be the difference.
