You Don’t Have to Be Amazing – Just Willing to Help – Cherie’s Story

Cherie, a proud Wakka Wakka and Woolly Woolly woman, never set out to become a foster carer, but her experience working at a local school changed everything. She saw firsthand just how many children needed a safe and stable home.

“The class that I had consisted of one-third of the children being in care, some sort of care,” she recalled. “And I thought, I can do something to help in this situation.”

One day, a young boy entered her classroom, and it was clear he was struggling. She could see he needed support and reached out to the foster care agency, letting them know she was willing to help if the child needed care. The response was unexpected.

“One day they replied to me, How many kids can you take? And so that child and his brother came into my care.”

As a single carer with a full-time job, Cherie suddenly found herself responsible for two boys, aged 10 and 11. Despite the challenges, she felt confident she could offer them something meaningful.

Helping Children Heal and Grow

The transition wasn’t easy. When the boys first arrived, their social skills were limited, and they found new environments overwhelming. One of the boys was particularly withdrawn.

“There would be one particular boy who would hide,” she said. “He would either curl up in a ball near a chair, or he would go hide in his bed. Trying to get him out of the car when we were going somewhere was very challenging.”

Over time, with patience, care, and stability, things began to change.

“I see this boy now talking in assemblies, putting his hand up to volunteer for different opportunities, being a leader,” she said. “It’s amazing how much growth there has been. Seeing that type of growth is what keeps me going.”

A Strong Support Network

Cherie believes that no foster carer is ever truly alone. Support is always available for those who reach out for it.

“If you become a foster carer, you won’t be in this alone,” she said. “You will always have a support network to help you. When I needed assistance, I had the on-call number for Partners in Foster Care, and I used that number. You don’t have to worry about people judging you because we all need help.”

She often speaks with friends and family who are considering fostering but hesitate because they feel they aren’t capable.

“People say to me, ‘You’re amazing, I don’t know how you do it.’ But I’m not that amazing,” she said. “You can do it. Even if it’s just to offer up one weekend a month—that would help us full-time carers out a lot.”

Her advice to anyone thinking about becoming a foster carer is simple:

“I think you just need to be able to back yourself. Be confident in asking for help, because it’s okay to ask for help. When they say it takes a village, I’m lucky because I do have a village around me—the South Burnett—who helps me out.”

Could You Be a Foster Carer?

Cherie’s story is a testament to the difference one person can make in a child’s life. Whether it’s for a weekend, a few months, or longer, foster carers play a vital role in helping children heal and grow.

If her story has inspired you, we’d love to talk to you about how you can be part of this journey. Contact us today to learn more about fostering and how you can make a difference.

Because every child deserves a safe place to belong.