A day in the life of Justin

Justin has shared his story about taking the leap into fostering as a single person with a full-time job – now he gives an insight into what life is like as a foster carer.

How do your mornings usually start?

5:30am wake up for me to iron and lay out uniforms, pack lunches, feed animals, get ready for work and have 5-10 minutes by myself to prepare mentally for the morning routine to start. 6am wake up for the eldest to get ready, 6:15am wake up, medication and getting ready for school for the youngest. Then 6:45am drop off to daycare and off to work for me.

What is the first cereal to run out in your household?

Breakfast is usually had at daycare, but on weekends coco-pops is the first thing to run out. Youngest will sometimes have 2 bowls he loves it so much.

You leave the house, and a child has forgotten something. What's it most likely to be?

Usually swimming gear… I always seem to forget about swim day.

Do you head to any outside-school activities?

Twice a week is Youth Active for the eldest. The youngest has not started any after-school activities yet, though he has shown a new interest in soccer so I am sure that will be his next adventure.

What are the children in your care's greatest strengths?

The youngest has the craziest imagination I have ever seen, and the eldest boy 's strength is his creativity.

What is your least favourite type of homework?

All of it! Everything has changed in the years since I have been at school and I hate the fact that I am unable to show them the same way as how they do it in class. I usually end up on Google trying to figure out the way they have been shown to do it.

What's the kids' current favourite show to watch?

The eldest likes anything anime and the youngest is currently watching the old Scooby-Doo and Steven Universe.

What is your evening routine like?

Evening routine is usually finish work at 4:30pm, daycare pick up and home by 4:45pm and wait for youngest to be dropped off at 5pm. Uniforms off, homework completed, chores completed and family phone calls at 6pm. Dinner and showers are done and dusted by 7pm and free time until bedtime at 8pm. Then my evening chores start before my downtime and bed by 9.30pm.

If you could have one superpower, what would it be?

The ability to create required neurological pathways with a touch where they are lacking from their trauma and disabilities.

What's your favourite thing to do when you have free time?

Read my book or do something creative.

What are some of the ways you keep the kids connected to family or culture?

We have family photos printed and hung on their bedroom walls. I facilitate family contact for the youngest and encourage and redirect him when required so he and his dad can get the most out of their calls. I organise visitation with the youngest 's dad when we go on holidays and encourage and support all family contact for the eldest where possible. I also encourage participation in cultural activities and advocate for more culturally appropriate activities and participation in cultural events with Child Safety and Central Queensland Indigenous Development.

How did you feel when the children in your care arrived to stay with you?

Scared and in over my head. With the support of Child Safety, I was able to overcome this fear and power on from there.

How has being a foster carer impacted your life?

Prior to becoming a carer, I had no commitments, no children of my own and limited knowledge of being a parent. So being a foster carer has been a whirlwind experience and a large learning curve.

If you could have 3 wishes for your children in care, what would they be?

• Erase the traumatic events of their past from their minds.
• That they grow to be all that they can be and achieve their heart's desires.
• That at every point in their lives, no matter what, they will always know that they are loved, and no problem will ever seem too big to handle.

If you could say one thing to encourage other people to become a carer like you, what would it be?

Although it can be difficult at times, it is so worth it to see the change you can make in these young lives.

Why do you do it?

I chose to foster care because I have the time and love to give to make a change for these kids and show them that no matter how unlovable they feel, they certainly are loved.