Awards recognise our dedicated carers

Bernardos Queensland Mother of the Year Jan Kime (left), with her daughter Cynthia, was motivated to foster by a carer she knew as a young adult.

Foster carers, kinship carers and their families will be celebrated during Foster and Kinship Carer Week from 31 July to 6 August 2011.

A highlight of the week will be the annual Foster and Kinship Carer Excellence Awards that acknowledge the dedication, commitment and achievements of all foster and kinship carers across Queensland.

Award nominations reopen on 3 June for people who weren't able to submit nominations earlier this
year, due to the summer of disasters.

A recruitment campaign will also be launched during the week to boost the numbers of carers.

One of Queensland’s dedicated volunteer carers recognised recently was Jan Kime from Childers. Jan has been crowned Queensland Mother of the Year as part of Barnados Australia’s Mother of the Year 2011 competition.

Barnados Australia’s Mother of the Year awards, in their 16th year, is a national event that recognises the achievements of mothers and their enormous contribution to the Australian community.

Jan has dedicated her life to caring for others and giving children the best start in life. She has been a foster carer for 37 years and has had more than 100 children in her care.

“I have always had a passion to help children and families. It’s so rewarding to see the little ones grow and develop and achieve their dreams and ambitions,” she says.

Jan says her wish is to see children reach their potential and achieve the best they can in life, adding that she was motivated to foster by a carer she knew as a young adult.

Another foster carer, Michelle Covele of Ripley near Ipswich, was a finalist in the competition.

Michelle has been a foster carer forthe past five years and has fostered more than 40 children while also raising her own six biological children. She decided to become a foster carer when her own foster  parent was dying. For more information about Foster and Kinship Carer Week or becoming a carer visit www.communities.qld.gov.au/child safety or call 1300 550 877.