Natalie TFCO Carer

Natalie is a First Nations woman who has been a foster carer for 10 years. She loves children and wants to make a difference in their lives. Having been a general foster carer prior to joining OzChild’s Treatment Foster Care Oregon (TFCO) program, Natalie was interested in the TFCO program because of its evidence-based approach and the intensive support and therapeutic care it provides to children with complex needs. 

“I had heard about TFCO when it was introduced to Toowoomba, but I had children in my general care at the time. I was curious about how it worked and what the outcomes were for the kids,” Natalie said. 

“When I had the opportunity to transfer to OzChild in August 2023, I jumped at the chance. I wanted to work within an environment that supported children to return safely to their parents, kinship carers or long-term foster carers. I also wanted to learn from the coaches and the team and be part of a program that is proven to work.” 

TFCO is a program that aims to help children and young people with complex needs achieve positive outcomes such as improved behaviour, reduced placement disruptions, and increased stability and wellbeing. TFCO has been proven to be effective in reducing the need for residential care or high-cost emergency care placements, improving educational attainment, and enhancing social skills and relationships. 

TFCO is delivered by OzChild, a leading child and family welfare organisation that supports children, young people, and families. OzChild has been operating TFCO in Queensland since 2019 and has seen significant improvements in the lives of the children who have been referred to the program. OzChild is about to celebrate the 100^th graduation of a child from its TFCO program nationally. 

TFCO carers like Natalie receive $2,500 per fortnight, as caring for these children is a full-time role. They also receive daily phone calls from an OzChild staff member, who works through a behaviour questionnaire with them to monitor the child’s progress and identify the underlying cause of problematic behaviours. They also receive weekly coaching sessions, monthly training, and 24/7 support from the OzChild team.  The team has a teacher who strengthens children’s engagement with education and a family therapist who supports work with parents and kin improving successful reunification. 

Natalie is passionate about culture and opens her doors to children from diverse cultural backgrounds. She provides a welcoming, homely, and consistent environment for the children in her care. She accepts them for who they are and encourages them to be the best version of themselves. 

Natalie is also committed to ensuring that the children’s voices are heard and that they have a say in their own lives. She advocates for their needs and rights and supports them to reconnect with their families and communities. 

Natalie has witnessed the transformation that TFCO can have on the children in her care to the children in her care. She has helped them heal from past trauma, improve their behaviour, and reintegrate into school. 

“Many of the children I have cared for have been in and out of residential care for most of their lives. Their trauma and inability to regulate their emotions often manifests with anger and aggression, and sadly many have trouble trusting adults and their peers,” explains Natalie. 

Most of the children who enter OzChild’s TFCO program are behind in their education and have very few, if any friends. TFCO helps the children to work through their feelings, and their thoughts and to learn new skills, while building positive relationships.  

Almost all children who complete the program do so, having returned to school full-time, they have made friends and are participating in extracurricular activities. “All of them end up feeling so proud of how far they have come and who they have become, they have hope for a future they couldn’t imagine before TFCO,” Natalie said. 

Sadly, a lot of the children OzChild sees enter the program have suffered child maltreatment and have moved between various foster care and residential care placements. Many are withdrawn, anxious, and fearful. It is not unusual for kids to have difficulty sleeping, poor eating habits, and difficulty expressing their emotions. Many have low self-esteem and no sense of identity.  

A TFCO carers role is to help these kids feel safe, loved, and valued, and carers like Natalie play a significant role in helping children reconnect with their culture and family. 

“These kids have often been through so much. They need someone to show them that they matter and that they do have a future. With TFCO, children and young people are able to heal from their trauma, develop confidence, and discover their strengths.” 

Re-establishing contact with their birth family or kin, including siblings, is one of the most crucial elements of TFCO.  

“If children are able to return to the care of their biological parents, kinship carers or return to a long-term foster care placement, it means another child gets to grow up within a loving, safe family environment, that’s why I do it,” says Natalie.  

Natalie is a valued member of OzChild’s Toowoomba TFCO team and brings with her a high level of energy, dedication, and authenticity. She is an inspiration to other carers and a role model for the children. She is also grateful for the opportunity to be part of TFCO and to make a difference in the lives of children and young people. 

“I love being a TFCO carer. It is challenging but also rewarding. I have learned so much from the program and from the children. I have seen them grow, change, and achieve their goals. I have also seen them smile, laugh, and have fun. They are amazing kids who deserve a chance to reclaim their childhood. I am honoured to be part of their journey,” Natalie said. 

To find out more about becoming a TFCO carer, click here.