I just want to be with my mum

August 28, 2024

Brian’s early life was tougher than most. Entering the foster care system quite young, he carried a profound sense of fear and anger after the trials of his early years. These strong emotions and the need for a sense of safety found their expression through Brian’s interactions with adults and fellow children. Regrettably, for a child at the mercy of the foster care system, this often spelled the undoing of many well intentioned care arrangements. 

Throughout Brian’s childhood, he had crossed paths with a multitude of foster parents and even spent time in a residential care home under a different agency. Tragically, his life story was one of abuse and neglect, both preceding his entry into the care system and during his days within it. Notwithstanding these experiences, Brian wanted desperately to live with his family once more. 

CatholicCare’s Intensive Therapeutic Care (ITC) Program oversees community homes specially formed and staffed for children like Brian. Youth Workers support up to four young people in each home, with Case Managers and Therapeutic Specialists providing a focus on therapeutic care and permanency to support the young people toward life beyond care. 

Once placed in the capable hands of CatholicCare’s ITC program, Brian embarked on a transformative journey spanning several years. In the safety of group home settings as well as a dedicated 1:1 care arrangement, he finally found sanctuary and support, a realm of safety and unwavering attention essential for mending the wounds of his past.

The ITC team’s efforts extended beyond Brian alone. They worked to forge deep connections with Brian’s mother and siblings, fostering a gradual transfer of care responsibilities. It was a delicate arrangement, a task that required compassion, flexibility and dedication.

As time wore on, Brian’s family took on more and more of his care, signalling a promising shift in the trajectory of his life. His family, now reunited in more ways than one, formed a robust support system, bound together by love and shared experiences. As we saw the commitment and potential for restoration with Brian’s family, we also recognised the resourcing challenges faced by many families struggling to make ends meet and responded with furniture and financial support. “CatholicCare have been the only people that have worked alongside us since the children came into care,” Brian’s mum reflects. 

Today, Brian is standing on the edge of independence. He has matured, emerging as a resilient young man, capable of navigating the complexities of life with a newfound strength. CatholicCare’s mission, beyond providing a safe haven for Brian, called for an unwavering commitment to his whole family. Our work extended far beyond the practicalities of care giving, encompassing the delicate art of relationship building and fostering connections that healed not only Brian, but also his family. 

Brian’s story serves as a reminder that with the right support, resilience and dedication, children from even the most troubled pasts can find their way back to the embrace of family and the promise of a brighter future. This is the story of CatholicCare’s Permanency Support Program – rebuilding lives and rekindling hope in the hearts of those who need it most.

* Please note the name and photo have been changed to protect the identity of the young person in care

Residential care services are provided for children and young people aged between 12 and 18 years, many of whom are the most vulnerable, having experienced extreme trauma and an absence of care and love.

The Department of Communities & Justice provides funding to CatholicCare, under the Permanency Support Program, to establish residential homes and care teams across the Diocese. We have a number of homes across Northern Sydney and the Central Coast which are carefully chosen and established to be close to schools and other amenities the young people will need as they journey towards independence. CatholicCare provides a team of experts to support each individual young person – Youth Workers, Case Workers and Therapeutic Specialists.

The program for each child is tailored to meet their therapeutic needs and developmental stage, recognising that the trauma they have experienced can affect their cognitive, emotional and social functioning. Assessments are carried out with therapeutic specialists, and individualised therapeutic interventions are co-ordinated by the child’s key worker, drawing on the multi-disciplinary skills within CatholicCare, other agencies, community and cultural groups. The young person’s progress is monitored and supported through CatholicCare’s guided practice case management systems. The therapeutic care team reviews and adjusts activities on a regular basis to flexibly meet the needs of each young person. A particular area of focus is supporting the young person to develop the skills, knowledge and networks they need to move to independence when they leave care.

For more information:
P: (02) 9481 2600
E: info@catholiccaredbb.org.au