Ensuring children experience safety, love and stability to thrive has been a lifelong commitment for Niki Borchardt.
In addition to raising her own children in country South Australia, she has provided a foster home with her husband for young people in need of care before joining the ac.care staff team as a key support worker for other carers.
“The rewards have always absolutely outweighed the challenges, knowing that even if you only cared for a child for a week, you were making a difference,” she said.
The Borchardts first became foster carers when they decided to welcome children into their regional home in addition to their five sons.
“There were three main children we had for longer periods and then lots of other kids coming and going,” Niki said, explaining children loved the freedom of their farm environment, collecting eggs from the chickens and checking on cows and sheep on the property.
“Overall, it was just like having extra siblings in the house,” Niki said.
“We were already used to footy on the weekends – it’s just what we all did – and it was just another child to tag along – there’s just so many children out there that need that … just love and support.”
She encouraged people who had considered becoming foster carers to learn more and take the next step.
“With the training and support you receive along the way, it’s well worth doing,” she said, explaining caring opportunities could be matched with people’s lifestyles, from long-term to offering respite at weekends, and with children of ages that match capacity of carer households.
