"We do it because we love it. Even when it is hard, it is good"

Naomi was only eight when she came in to live with her foster parents Kim and George. She was an extremely anxious child with behavioral issues and a low sense of self-worth. Naomi and her six siblings had been neglected by their mother, not fed or clothed properly and had been terrorized by their mother's partner who subjected them to extreme trauma including physically assaulting their mother in front of them.

"We, the ones who are challenged, need to be heard. To be seen not as a disability, but as a person who has, and will continue to bloom." Robert M. Hensel

For Social Inclusion Week, we asked one of the families we work with through our Disability Services to tell us what 'Social Inclusion' means to them and their family..

Here's what they had to say:

I dream of a world for my children that recognizes difference as some thing to be celebrated, that is unique and individual. That difference is something to be embraced and not to be looked upon as bad or to be condemned. The message is so simple, everyone is different in their own way but there is one thing we share in common which makes us all the same...We are all human beings!

How OzChild helped keep Joshua and his family together...

"Joshua'sMum, Molly's been taking anti-depressants for the last three years and says she finds it hard to function on a day-to-day basis."

Joshua is a nine year-old boy who has been diagnosed with an Intellectual Disability and Autism.

OzChild's Chance to Shine program provides scholarships to kids like Kathy to help them pursue their talents, passions and dreams.

Read our Chance to Shine Newsletter for more stories. Click here to download

OzChild have two centres that offer the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL), in Pakenham and Cranbourne.

Background
Darren is a 17 year old boy who attends the community VCAL program in Pakenham. Darren had difficulties in a regular school setting and his attendance was poor as was his motivation regarding school work. Since enrolling in VCAL his attendance has improved as has his self confidence. Darren has shown determination in obtaining school results to meet identified career pathways. He hopes to pursue a career in the armed forces when he leaves the program. With this goal in mind he has demonstrated both leadership skills and an ability to work well in a team. He has shown an interest in outdoor recreational activities and is often an example to his peers.

Darren's family financial circumstances are difficult as his father has been unemployed for some time.

Susan is a single mother with two children: 17-year-old Ebony who has significant behavioural issues and 5-year-old Sam, who is autistic. Sadly, Susan suffers from mental illness, which means she can't provide all the support and care her children need.

Regular periods of weekend care for Sam through OzChild's Disability Services have provided respite for Susan, enabling her to devote crucial time to Ebony. Meanwhile, OzChild's Child and Family Support Services provide practical in-home support and counselling for the family. Ebony identified she wanted to work with children, so has now enrolled in a Certificate III course in Children's Services through OzChild's Registered Training Organisation.

When my family decided to go into the foster care program, we were full of anticipation and curiosity.  We knew that it would be rewarding, but we under-estimated just how rewarding it could be.  The experiences I have had over the several years of fostering have been funny, educating, challenging and emotional.

I always look forward to having children come.  I have never really disliked any of the kids who have come to us, nor have I ever wished that we hadn't become part of the foster care program.  It has taught me a lot about children, different discipline techniques and the psychology of what makes them work.

Amy, aged four and Erin, aged two, are sisters who came into foster care when their mother was experiencing domestic violence, homelessness and drug issues.  Amy had a range of phobias and was terrified of the vacuum, the bath and loud noises.

Erin was also beginning to develop phobias like her sister. Both sisters had no routine, had trouble sleeping and eating and had a number of challenging behaviours.

Tannesha, aged 4, was living with her mother, Abby, who was dealing with mental health and drug abuse issues. Abby was unable to provide a safe and stable home, and Tannesha was placed in out of home care. Due to Tannesha's past experiences of  trauma she was withdrawn and refused all food.

Abby's sister, Sylvia, who had a strong relationship with Tannesha, was seen as a potential carer. The required assessment process was undertaken. Once a decision was made that Sylvia would be able to appropriately care for Tannesha, the OzChild Kinship Care team was asked to support Sylvia to provide full time care of Tannesha.

The younger child in the 'Brown' family has only hazy memories of his mother as he was only 18 months old when he was taken into care by Child Protection. The two older children however, had frightening memories of violent rows between their mother and their stepfather - rows which sometimes spilled over to include them as targets for their stepfather's anger. They remembered the hunger, the moving from place to place, the teasing and bullying they experienced at school when they turned up unkempt and smelly, and seeing their mother drugged to the point where she was unable to respond the essential needs of the younger child.