WA foster carer wins Barnardos 2010 Mother of the Year Award

Community Services Minister Robyn McSweeney was on hand to congratulate West Australian grandmother Kaye Worth, who was named Barnardos 2010 Australian Mother of the Year in Sydney last night.

At 68, with three children of her own, Mrs Worth has fostered more than 50 children in the past 15 years and currently has a newborn in her care.

"Kaye is to be congratulated for her selfless contribution to the children she has helped look after and raise during the past 15 years," Mrs McSweeney said.

"At a time when WA needs more foster carers, Kaye winning this award brings a focus to the devotion shown by carers and is a fantastic example of the value the community places on fostering." 

In her acceptance speech, Mrs Worth said fostering was one of the most fulfilling and rewarding things she had ever done.

"There was a family at my local church that used to do pre-adoptive fostering and, being a baby person as I call myself, it was something I wanted to do," Mrs Worth said.

"One day I got this feeling right in the pit of my stomach and I knew I had to start fostering. Often the babies are in my care for several months before they go to adoption so we put together an album of photos, a lock of hair from their first hair cut and other little mementos that go with them as it's all part of their life story."

The Minister said as a result of hearing Mrs Worth's story, she hoped more people would consider fostering to provide safe and caring homes for the growing number of children and young people who were unable to live with their own families.

"There is always a need for foster carers but many people are not sure of what is involved or do not understand how rewarding the experience can be," she said.

Mrs McSweeney said a telephone hotline,1800 024 453, had been set up by the Department for Child Protection to receive calls from people interested in fostering and the department's website at http://www.childprotection.wa.gov.au contained a downloadable information pack.