Join us in empowering Australia's foster care
community as we work towards improving
critical outcomes for kids in care.
Did you know?
Astonishingly, approximately 49,000 of Australia's children are in foster care / out of home care (OOHC) while only 9,000 foster care households are available; often housing multiple children and under significant stress as they navigate the intricate needs of displaced children. The current system is proving ill equipped to adapt and respond to the growing issues at hand, resulting in many children facing broken placements and insufficient carer resources - ultimately fuelling intergenerational patterns of increased trauma, abuse and institutionalisation.
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Sourcing, connecting and empowering competent foster carers has never been more critical.
The issue;
our why.
Foster care is messy business. Outcomes for children and young people who enter OOHC (Out of Home Care/foster care) consistently demonstrate a failing system. Unfortunately, children in OOHC not only struggle to thrive but also face significant disadvantages and hardships compared to their peers who have not been part of the system. Disturbingly, over half of young people experience homelessness within just four years of leaving out-of-home care. They also have poorer educational outcomes, difficulties in obtaining and maintaining employment, higher rates of mental health issues, increased likelihood of incarceration, higher chances of their own children being removed and placed in care, and a higher premature mortality rate. These problems cannot be attributed to a single factor but rather stem from countless interconnected causes. Regrettably, our current welfare institutions are ill-equipped to manage these complex dynamics, which evolve at a faster rate than traditional interventions can address. This system needs innovation and these children can't wait.
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The research.
At Hatch Project, we have dedicated ourselves to understanding these intricate system dynamics using mapping techniques to identify effective points of intervention that will generate positive impact. Through this process, we discovered that many foster carers feel overwhelmed, under-resourced, and ill-prepared for their role. They often feel unheard and disempowered when it comes to making decisions that could enhance the care they provide for the children placed with them. Despite these challenges, foster carers are expected to undertake one of the most demanding and vital jobs in our society: nurturing and caring for children who have experienced trauma and abuse.
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At Hatch Project, our vision is for all children in foster care to thrive. We recognize that establishing a safe, secure, and nurturing relationship with their foster carer is paramount to achieving this vision. However, we also know that children who have experienced developmental trauma and abuse require more support from their carers to thrive, compared to those raised in healthier home environments. Unfortunately, many foster carers feel ill-equipped, under-resourced, and overwhelmed in their role. We have identified this foster carer 'wellbeing problem' as a systems issue - and recognise that if carers were more empowered, nurtured, and connected, they would be better equipped to meet the additional needs of the children in their care.
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READ: 2023 Hatch Research Project: The issues at hand and the critical role of foster carers in the path ahead.
The opportunity;
a way forward.
In response to these challenges, we've designed and implemented an innovative online platform in collaboration with foster carers. This platform harnesses specially created software for community engagement and takes the form of a foster carer forum—a space that promotes active engagement and collaboration among its users. Here, foster carers can connect, learn, and advocate for positive change within a supportive community. The platform provides tailored resources and facilitates meaningful engagement. Our research suggests that by enhancing foster carer wellbeing, we can achieve positive outcomes such as increased numbers of foster carers, placement stability, and carers who are better equipped, both physically and emotionally, to meet the needs of the children in their care. In the coming years, we anticipate establishing measurable evidence of how improved carer wellbeing, facilitated by our platform, leads to better outcomes for children in care.
Our short-term goal is to provide carers with a nurturing and supportive place to visit on their hardest days. Our long-term goal is to establish new and influential pathways of communication from carers back to the sector. Our ultimate goal is to improve carer wellbeing and achieve measurable positive outcomes for children in foster care.
Discovering what works.
Click to view our intro to the Hatch Project Foster Carers Forum along with the initial pilot insights and outcomes.
The invitation.
After a successful pilot program, we're eager to launch into the next phase of our development. To do so we are seeking financial assistance and invite you to join us as a sponsor.
How to get
started.
The first step is to book in an 'expression of interest' sponsorship meeting where we can discuss the current project phase, financial milestones and support opportunities.
Book a Sponsorship Meeting
Contact Marcie McGowan directly on 0407 706 709 or email marciemcgowan@outlook.com to schedule.