Foster and Kinship Care Week kicks off on Sunday 8 September 2024 with a celebration picnic to say thank you to those who go above and beyond for children and young people in government care.

Throughout our community there are people who open their homes to children and young people who have nowhere else to go. These are the people who will be recognised, thanked and celebrated at the annual Foster and Kinship Care Week Picnic at Penrith Showground on Sunday 8 September.

Hosted by My Forever Family NSW, the event is a way for carer families to come together and be celebrated for the valuable work they do in providing safe homes.

Renée Leigh Carter, CEO of Adopt Change operating the My Forever Family NSW program, says the picnic is a highlight on the program’s calendar, with accredited foster care agencies across Sydney also participating to show their support for carer families via stalls and activities.

“Carers showcase the best qualities of our society, and it’s our privilege to be able to offer carer families a well-earned day of fun,” Ms Leigh Carter says.

“It’s a reminder to all that while the carer journey can be difficult, it is also deeply rewarding and satisfying. These carers found room in their homes and space in their lives for children and young people who desperately needed the support that a stable home provides. That is unquestionably something that is worth celebrating.”

The picnic will include rides, food, entertainment, face painting and much more. The event is open to authorised carers providing kinship care, short or long-term foster care, guardianship and adoption from out-of-home care in NSW, as well as the children they care for.

The event is free, but all attendees are asked to register through this link.

You can find more information about My Forever Family NSW at www.myforeverfamily.org.au.