The Carers for Kids NSW Carer Recognition Awards celebrate the extraordinary foster carers who go above and beyond for the children and young people in their care. This year, several of our incredible carers were recognised for the compassion, humility, and dedication they bring to their roles, and the way they support children to remain connected to family and culture.
Brione, recipient of the Connections that Matter Award
Hunter carer Brione was awarded the Connections that Matter Award for “helping children stay connected to family, culture and community, ensuring they grow with a strong sense of identity and belonging”.
From Carers for Kids NSW blog:
Keeping children connected to the people who matter to them is at the heart of Brione’s role as a carer. When siblings in her care were living separately, Brione made it a priority to help them spend time together and maintain their relationship. She made regular visits possible and, over time, those visits grew into something much more meaningful.
“I used to have their sister come once a month to maintain that family connection, and in the end, she refused to leave.”
Those connections have continued to grow over the years. Brione also developed a relationship with the children’s parents, grandparents and wider family, creating a strong network of connection around the children. Seven years on, those family relationships remain strong.
“We started to develop a relationship with Mum and Dad and Nan and Pop. Now we have informal contact with families. They come to our home.”
Brione says that supporting sibling relationships is about recognising the importance of these connections throughout a child’s life.
“If they can have that positive connection with their siblings, that’s really important.”
Jonica and Clint, finalists for the Embracing Cultural Belonging Award
Jonica and Clint were recognised as finalists for the Embracing Cultural Belonging Award for their outstanding commitment to supporting cultural identity, belonging and connection for children in their care. Their thoughtful and proactive approach ensures the children feel proud, connected and secure in their identity.
Drawing on their experience raising an adopted son from Vanuatu, they have spent many years nurturing strong connections to culture, community and family. They have maintained ongoing relationships with his birth family, visited local villages and created opportunities for meaningful cultural engagement throughout his life. Their adopted son’s mother regularly visits and stays with the family, demonstrating their deep respect for family connection and cultural continuity.
Today, they bring that same commitment to Jonathan. They actively seek opportunities to strengthen cultural identity and support lifelong connections to family, culture and community. Their efforts include connecting the children with Brian Kaltak from Perth Glory and supporting them to attend games and engage with positive cultural role models. These experiences help the children build pride, confidence and aspiration, while seeing people from their own culture celebrated and succeeding.
Through their positive attitude and unwavering commitment, Jonica and Clint consistently go above and beyond to support the cultural needs of children in their care, making them highly deserving finalists for this recognition.
Tony and Jeanette, finalists for the Embracing Cultural Belonging Award
Tony and Jeanette were also recognised as finalists for the Embracing Cultural Belonging Award for the exceptional care they provide to a child with significant and complex disabilities. Despite challenges that affect the child’s ability to fully comprehend aspects of their culture, the pair remain deeply committed to ensuring cultural identity and connection remain an important part of the child’s life.
They have supported the child to travel to China on multiple occasions to connect with family and experience their cultural heritage firsthand. They also maintain communication with the child’s siblings’ adoptive parents, sharing knowledge and support relating to both disability and culture. These efforts help preserve important family relationships and strengthen the child’s connection to their background.
At home, they create everyday opportunities for cultural engagement. The family watches Chinese television channels, celebrates Chinese New Year and prepares traditional foods such as longevity noodles for birthdays. They also support traditional Chinese hairstyles and encourage the child to share cultural treats with classmates, helping to foster pride and participation in cultural traditions.
Their commitment is also reflected throughout the home. Cultural artwork, family photographs and school projects are proudly displayed, while cultural décor helps create an environment that celebrates the child’s heritage. Jeanette has even sourced traditional patterned fabric from China to create a quilt for the child.
Through building relationships with the child’s family and learning to prepare traditional meals, Tony and Jeanette demonstrate a genuine embrace of the child’s cultural identity. Their dedication ensures the child remains as connected as possible to their culture, family and heritage.
To find out more about being a foster carer, read more on our website.
