Can You Give Danny a Forever Home? Become a Long-term Carer Today

Every child deserves a safe, loving home where they can grow, heal, and thrive. For Danny, a resilient young boy, that home is still out of reach. But with the right carer, he can finally have the stability and support he needs. 

Meet Danny: a bright young boy in need of a forever family 

Danny is a fun-loving 13-year-old with a passion for animals and a talent for drawing. Despite his bright smile, his life has been challenging. He was removed from his birth family due to neglect and abuse and has spent the past three years in residential care. Danny has limited contact with his mother, seeing her once a fortnight, but does not know his father. 

While residential care provides basic necessities, Danny needs the love, warmth and stability of a real home.

The harsh reality of residential care 

Residential care is a house for children who can’t live at home and is often a last resort for children who cannot be placed with family or foster carers. Usually there are three to four children living under one roof, who are looked after by workers on a rotating roster. 

In Australia, approximately 5% of the 47,915 children in out-of-home care reside in facilities like this.*  

Without consistent, caring relationships and a stable, home-based environment, children in residential care can struggle with emotional and social development. These children often experience difficulties forming attachments, trusting others, and feeling secure. Many report feeling isolated, longing for the stability and love that only a family environment can provide.  

Why children like Danny end up in residential care 

Children enter residential care for various reasons, including abuse, neglect, parental substance abuse, mental or physical illness, family violence, or the incarceration or death of a parent. When no immediate family or foster carers are available, children like Danny are placed in residential settings. ** 

While these facilities meet basic needs, they are not a long-term solution. Children in long-term residential care face increased challenges, including difficulties with school, social relationships, and emotional wellbeing. However, Danny can overcome these obstacles and flourish with the right carer. 

The urgent need for a permanent carer 

Danny has so much potential – he is smart, witty and affectionate – but without a stable home, his future remains uncertain.  

By becoming Danny’s carer, you can offer him the stability, love, and guidance he needs to heal and grow. OzChild will support you with full training, on-call 24/7 support, and a community of carers to ensure you are never alone on this journey. 

Danny deserves the chance to grow up in a stable, supportive home where he can develop his creative side, have a role model to teach him essential life skills, and be encouraged to grow while feeling safe and secure. Is that home, yours?