In a bid to connect with new Specialist Foster Carers for the many South Australian children and young people who need the care they deserve, Lutheran Care has launched a new campaign across TV and social media.
The campaign, ‘Be the Village – Specialist Care’, will promote Specialist Foster Care in 2023 and builds on key messaging co-designed with current Lutheran Care Foster Carers, drawing on the well-known proverb, ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’
Specialist Foster Carers are unique, in that they have the specific skills, experience and capacity to support children and young people with complex needs to best facilitate an environment in which they can thrive.
The campaign was designed with assistance from Adelaide-based creative agency Welbourn O’Brien, and the promotional video filmed on various scenic trails throughout the Belair National Park, reaching a cinematic conclusion during the golden hour on location at Mount Osmond, South Australia. Lutheran Care joined Welbourn O’Brien on set for all shoots; filming finished after sunset one night and commenced before the sunrise of the next day so the natural light throughout the footage would help tell the story of a family on a real journey. Despite the lack of sleep, the windy drive and the lugging of cameras and shooting equipment through the forest and up rocky trails, the crew’s spirits were high as everyone understood the telling of this story, the significance of its message and all the details were important.
Through the narrative of three generations, the campaign imagery presents a foster parent climbing a mountain with the young person in their care, while reflecting on the village that was most significant to them as they themselves grew up in care.
Symbolic of obstacles, trials and perseverance, the mountain climb depicts fostering as a journey. And in a joyful celebration of relationship, attachment and hope, the pair celebrate in meeting the original Foster Carer during golden hour overlooking beautiful Adelaide.
Celebrating the ripple effect of a carer’s nurturing and care, this story tells of one carer who changes the trajectory of one child’s life impacting future generations in an immeasurable way.
“Foster Carers often share that their main motivation to provide care is ‘making a difference’ in the lives of children and young people,” says Lutheran Care Foster Care Services’ Recruitment and Retention Coordinator, Tessa Joppich.
“It was important to us throughout the development of this campaign that our imagery and messaging accurately represented the voices of our carer community, honoured their motivations to care, and celebrated the lifelong impact they do indeed make for children and young people.”
Stories from real Specialist Foster Carers
At the heart of the campaign are real Specialist Foster Carers sharing their stories and the real difference they are making in the lives of the young people they care for. On the Lutheran Care website, Specialist Foster Carers Angela and Tiki share their fostering journey to Specialist Foster Care and a personal encouragement to anyone considering reaching out to learn more.
In their real stories, Angela and Tiki open up about the opportunities that becoming a Specialist Foster Carer provide them. In stepping back from their employment and having more time to dedicate to the ones in their care, Angela, Tiki and their families are provided ongoing support, advanced training opportunities and a financial allowance to support their 24/7 care for the young people in their care.
With a growing need for Specialist Foster Carers for children and young people in South Australia, Be the Village – Specialist Care aims to address pre-existing ideas about foster caring to potential carers and families and promote one of the many types of Foster Care options that Lutheran Care facilitates.
A range of Foster Care options
Some children and young people only need Short Term Care; carers that are willing to stand in the gap for as long as it’s needed.
Other children require the safety and nurturing environment provided by Long Term carers, while being supported to maintain contact with their extended family members, siblings and other community members like cultural mentors.
Some children really benefit from regular Respite Care, providing them with the opportunity to establish safe and meaningful connections, extending their Village of support with safe people who can go on to play a lifelong role in the child’s life.
The many and varied experiences of Foster Carers meeting the needs of children and young people in care, show the rich diversity within the Village.
“At the end of the day, the Village messaging is reflective of a child belonging in community and being supported by safe people working together and looking out for their best interests,” says Lutheran Care Executive Manager Specialist Services, Karen Harvey.
And we know from all the research and all the experts, that relationships are the agents for change.
As Dr Bruce Perry, a leading teacher, clinician and researcher in children’s mental health and neuroscience, says: “The more healthy relationships a child has, the more likely they will recover from trauma and thrive. Relationships are the agents of change and the most powerful form of therapy is human love.”
Have you thought about fostering or would like to learn more?
Join the Village.
To arrange a time to speak with a friendly staff member about Foster Care, and ask any questions you may have, contact Tessa via 08 8337 8787 or submit an online enquiry form and we’ll call you back. Visit lutherancare.org.au/specialist-foster-care for more information.
Be the Village.