Logan locals John and Marilyn Garsden have fostered for over 30 years and homed hundreds of children in need.
Now they’re in their 70s, and they say their time as foster carers is coming to an end.
But they’ve urged others to get involved in what they have called a “rewarding responsibility”.
Mr Garsden said they have homed children for as little as one night, and others for as long as 20 years.
“One of the biggest, toughest things at the moment is finding foster carers to look after teenagers, because by the time they’re that age there’s a huge amount of difficulties these children have had to face,” Mr Garsden said.
“So for the last 10 years we’ve focused on caring for trauma abuse children.
“Helping someone with a trauma background get through their challenges is a big achievement and can be very rewarding.”
He said many of his foster children over the years continue to keep in touch with him.
“It’s always hard to say goodbye to them,” he said.
“You’re taught in the beginning that you’re not supposed to develop an attachment, but that’s difficult because you can’t give children the love, care and the attention they need without forming some kind of bond.”
Last week the state government launched a recruitment campaign to attract more foster carers.
Currently there are over 1100 children in foster care in Logan and 586 carer families.
Across the state, nearly 15,000 children are subject to ongoing intervention and over 11,600 children are in out-of-home care.
There are only 6000 foster families.
New carers receive training and support through specialist agencies, which Mr Garsden said was crucial .
“You’re often looking after kids who have seen the most unsavoury sides of society,” he said.
“We look after trauma-affected children, but you don’t have to do that when you start.
“When you start, you’re able to specify what level of commitment you think you can manage.”
The child safety minister, Craig Crawford, said foster carers were the backbone of the child safety system.
“Every four minutes Child Safety receives a report of concern for a child,” Mr Crawford said.
“I’ve met many of these children and I can tell you they share the same hopes and dreams of other young Queenslanders – one that is free of the harm, abuse and neglect.
“They yearn for love and care, and they wish for a more ordinary life.
“Overwhelmingly they are grateful for the support they receive from carers and the child protection system designed to protect them.
“We need more carers to provide loving homes to these children who are unable to live in theirs – a home where they can get care, support and understanding.”
