Peer Support Network

Peer support is the process of sharing experiences and providing knowledge, emotional, social or practical help obtained through similar situations.

Our Peer Support Network was formed in 2017 to deliver services across 10 regions in South Australia.

We have a team of 9 experienced foster and kinship carers with a combined 72 years of caring experience who are available to have a chat, listen and share their own experiences with other Carers, helping them to connect with others and feel less isolated.

Our Peer Support Network volunteers come from a diverse range of backgrounds and have experienced various challenges, issues, and successes. They have joined together in training to deliver this service and are ready to offer a ‘listening ear’ and help other Carers to explore various aspects of foster and kinship care in a supportive environment.

If you would like one of our Peer Support volunteers to contact you, please email support@cfc-sa.org.au or call 1800 737 272, noting the area you live in (either suburb or general region) and your phone number.

N.B. Peer Support is not to be confused with advocacy, rather it is a complementary service. Our Peer Support Network will refer any issues to our staff team for further follow up.

To find out who is your Peer Support volunteer, please click on the relevant region below:

Northern Metro

Hi my name is Matthew and I am the Peer Support volunteer for the Northern metro region.

My wife and I have been kinship carers for the past 9 years. We have children of our own (2 have children of their own which makes me a grand-dad!), and along with our kinship children our 16yr old son lives with us full time. To add to the family, we also have a child friendly dog. I love being a kinship dad and being able to open my home up to kids who don’t have anywhere safe to live. I really enjoy watching them grow up in a safe and happy environment and to see them achieve their goals and ambitions. I look forward to helping other carers who need any moral support or just an ear to listen.

Southern Metro

Hi my name is Heidi. I am the Peer Support volunteer for the Southern Metro region.

My husband and I emigrated from the UK in 2003 and we became foster parents in 2005. For the past 11 years, we have been parents of 4 long term children, but it doesn’t stop there. We already had 5 birth children so we are the proud parents (sometimes exhausted parents!) of 9 children. We are also the grandparents of 6 grandchildren.

My husband and I are committed passionate carers. We have attended the IFCO conference in Sydney and we care together as a team. We find our lives are always interesting, sometimes crazy, but most of all our house is full of love.

Fleurieu & Kangaroo Island

Hi my name is Wendy and I represent the Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island region as the CFC-SA’s Peer Support volunteer. I have been a foster carer for nearly 6 years, doing long-term, emergency, short term and respite care.

I decided to take on this volunteer role as I hope to help other carers negotiate the highs and lows that come with the role we have taken on, inviting children to be part of our families.

My husband and I have one son and live on a beef cattle property. I have had experience as an enrolled nurse, a Christian pastoral support worker in my local school, as well as being involved in the local scout group and church. I look forward to supporting and meeting other carers in my region.

Adelaide Hills, Murray & Mallee

Hi my name is Narelle and I am the Peer Support volunteer for the Adelaide Hills and Murray Mallee regions.

I have been a foster carer for 6 years and recently became a kinship carer too. My 3 beautiful children are all on long term orders but I also have experience with short term, emergency and respite care. I am a teacher, singer and marriage celebrant in amongst raising my family with my husband on our property in the hills. I am also a volunteer on the Hills Community Carers Forum. I am looking forward to supporting carers and children in home based care.

Barossa, Light & Mid-North

Limestone Coast

Hi my name is Michelle and I am the Peer Support volunteer for the Limestone Coast.

With my husband, I have had 10 year’s experience of foster caring – in emergency, respite, long and short term and also reunification care. I have a passion for reunification and helping children bond with their birth family and try and work towards good communication. We have enjoyed our journey as a family providing the love and support, as needed, with wonderful relationships that continue today. Both my husband and I are happy that we have made a difference in a child’s life and the work we have done during our foster carer experience.

Eyre & Western

Hi my name is Jackie. I am the Peer Support volunteer for the Eyre/Western region based in Port Lincoln. I have been a foster carer for the past 6 years providing emergency, respite, short and long term placements to children from a wide variety of backgrounds and needs.

I became a carer because I believe every child deserves love and nurturing. As a mother of 3, now adult children, I knew I could offer this to children in need. I am looking forward to offering support and encouragement for carers to help them overcome any difficulties or fears they may be having.

Yorke & Mid-North

Far North

Hi my name is Kelly. I am a mother of 5 children – 4 biological children and 1 foster son. I am also a full time respite and emergency carer. I have been a mother for 25 years and a foster carer for 5 years. I am Aboriginal and I work as a youth worker in schools, liaising with families from all cultures.

I am confident through my life experiences that I will be able to provide guidance and support to other foster and kinship carers in my region.

“We are not alone, we can request help, support is always available” (Carer)

Peer Support Network

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