By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
SHOES, pyjamas, a blanket and a toothbrush are just some of the items thousands of children and teenagers placed in foster and emergency care don’t have.
Cranbourne resident and founder of Backpacks 4 Vic Kids, Sally Ritter-Whelan said most children were left with a garbage bag if anything.
“When relocations occur most kids are often left with nothing, usually barely clothed, sometimes it’s just a pair of shorts they’re wearing or a really soggy nappy,” Ms Ritter- Whelan said.
Last year Ms Ritter-Whelan was shocked to hear the backpacks and nappy bags supplied to Victorian children and teenagers when relocated were packed, funded and transported from far north Queensland.
“After hearing that Backpacks for Aussie Kids in far north Queensland, who are in their sixth year, were trying to meet the needs of Victoria as well, I decided I would start Backpacks 4 Vic Kids in November, with a vision to supply nappy bags and back packs to children aged 0 to 17.”
The independent body linked with their sister organisations in South Australia and Goondi, far north Queensland are not for profit organisations working closely with agencies that place children in care.
Ms Ritter-Whelan said the backpacks and nappy bags were given to the carer when the child arrived at their new location to help them settle in.
“Our aim is to support the carers to make the first 24 to 48 hours easier on them and lighten the load on heavily overworked social welfare officers, and of course our main focus is to give the kids something to help ease the trauma of transition and relocation, something to cuddle and something to keep them warm,” Ms Ritter-Whelan said.
The packing and sorting is all done out of a purpose-built room in Ms Whelan’s home.
“It’s been fitted out with cupboards and shelves and we organise the packs by age group,” she said.
Backpacks include a blanket, soft toy, shampoo and conditioner, soap, toothbrush and toothpaste, a hairbrush, deodorant, a soft toy, three pairs of new undies, two sets of clothes, one set of pyjamas, a torch and more.
“We expect this to grow very quickly – based on the response from agencies in the last week, it appears that our goal of 600 backpacks in the first year will be well exceeded,” she said.
The Backpacks 4 Vic Kids mission has asked to be expanded by agencies to include children in refugees and those that are still monitored by services under home parenting. Ms Ritter-Whelan said the high rate of children in foster care was a major concern.
“Victoria is in a crisis because the need for care is increasing each year and the registration of foster carers is decreasing,” she said.
The filled backpacks are ordered from the Victoria Police, the Department of Human Services and foster care agencies statewide with all items donated or fund-raised by Backpacks 4 Vic Kids.
Ms Ritter-Whelan said she was hoping more people thought about their ability to foster care or consider respite for a weekend or a month.
“It’s surprising who has the capacity to foster care – a university student living in an apartment had the ability to foster and did,” she said.
A sausage sizzle at the Cranbourne Bunnings Warehouse at 1205 Thomsons Road will be held on Monday 8 June.
To donate, visit Backpacks 4 Vic Kids on Facebook.
