Mockingbird – A Community for Carers

OzChild has recently invested in implementing the Mockingbird Family model to provide greater support for foster carers within our Southern Melbourne program.

MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™ is an evidence-informed model that creates a community of local carers working together to support each other and the children and young people in their care.

In recent years, Australia has seen a concerning decrease in the number of people stepping up to foster, and, more worryingly, an increase in the number of carers deciding to end their caring journey. This alarming trend underscores the urgent need for enhanced support, development and retention strategies. 

Which is why we are passionate about implementing initiatives like Mockingbird. We want to ensure foster carers have all the support they need.

Previously, carers have identified that some of the most meaningful support has come from other carers who had empathy and frontline experience of their own daily needs. This is where the idea of the Mockingbird Family Constellation comes from, a hub where a lead carer works hard to keep a constellation of 6-8 local carer households connected.

This micro-community allows the kids of all the families to form a special friendship group, or as we like to think about it, providing children and young people with an extended family. Not only does Mockingbird offer carers someone to talk to who understands what they are going through, but it also offers them a safety net in case an emergency were to occur and someone needed to look after the carer’s child.