Couple so glad they decided to take care

By Sarah Schwager
A PAKENHAM couple made a New Year’s resolution two years ago and haven’t looked back.
They decided to become foster carers.
Jenny Douloudis and Rob Paynting said it was the most rewarding decision they had made and urged others to take on the responsibility as well.
“People think we’re looking after delinquents or something but it’s not true. The kids we have now are loving, affectionate and well-behaved,” Mr Paynting said.
The couple is currently caring for three siblings – two girls, 7 and 5, and a boy, 14 months.
Mr Paynting has grown-up children and Ms Douloudis has a 10-year-old daughter.
“She likes being the older sister,” Mr Paynting said. “She plays the role well.”
The pair has been looking after the three children for the past five months and will have them for at least another nine months.
“The changes in the children are amazing to see,” Ms Douloudis said.
After deciding to become foster carers, they went through a process to get approved, including a training session, which ran over a couple of days, and police checks.
Ms Douloudis said the training had been a lot of fun and had drawn them in.
“Everyone else took their forms home,” she said.
“We sat there and filled out the forms right there.”
They became foster carers with Oz Child’s Home Based Care Program and were chosen as one of the few couples who could take siblings.
“They find it hard to find carers who can take three,” Ms Douloudis said.
She said there were many different circumstances where foster carers were needed, such as a single parent who might be ill.
Ms Douloudis said they would look after the children as long as they were needed.
“We find it really rewarding,” Mr Paynting said. “Lots of people think they can’t do it but we’re just ordinary people.”
He said they just treated the kids like they were their own family.
Ms Douloudis said some of the children were very troubled. One of the first kids they looked after couldn’t use a fork or spoon and would eat with his hands.
By the end he was using a fork to eat without any trouble.
“There’s lots of help and support on hand. People should know that,” Ms Douloudis said.
Foster carers can access a 24-hour service for advice or to have someone sent out to their home.
“Those people that think they can’t do it should at least try,” Mr Paynting said.
Anyone interested in becoming a foster carer can contact Oz Child on 9791 5423.