Piccaninny Foster & Kinship Care
What is Piccaninny Foster & Kinship Care
Our Community – Caring for Our Kids
Piccaninny Foster & Kinship Care works alongside foster and kinship carers to provide safe, stable, and nurturing homes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people who are unable to live with their parents. Our service is committed to ensuring children remain connected to their culture, family, community, and identity while receiving the care and support they need to thrive. Through culturally appropriate practices, ongoing support, and strong partnerships with carers and families, we help create positive outcomes for children while supporting safe reunification with their parents wherever possible.
Walking Alongside Carers Every Step of the Way
Our dedicated Piccaninny team supports both foster and kinship carers throughout their entire caring journey. From recruiting and assessing prospective carers to delivering training, conducting home visits, and providing ongoing guidance and advocacy, we ensure carers have the knowledge, confidence, and support needed to provide quality care. Whether you’re considering becoming a carer or are already supporting a child in your care, our team is here to help you navigate every stage of the process while keeping the child’s wellbeing, cultural connection, and sense of belonging at the centre of everything we do.
What is the difference between foster care and kinship care?
Foster care provides temporary care for children by approved carers who are not biologically related to them. Kinship care involves children being cared for by relatives, close family friends, or community members who already have a connection to the child, helping maintain family, cultural, and community ties.
Do I need previous experience to become a foster or kinship carer?
No. Our team provides comprehensive training, guidance, and ongoing support to help you develop the skills and confidence needed to care for a child or young person.
What support will I receive as a carer?
Carers receive ongoing support from our team, including regular home visits, training opportunities, practical guidance, advocacy, and assistance accessing relevant services and resources to support both the carer and the child.
Can I become a foster or kinship carer if I work full-time?
Yes. Carers come from a wide range of backgrounds and life circumstances. The most important qualities are providing a safe, stable, and nurturing environment for a child. Our team will work with you to understand your situation and determine what caring opportunities may be suitable for you and your family.
Keeping Culture, Family & Community Strong
Every child deserves to grow up feeling safe, loved, and connected to who they are. Foster and kinship care play an important role in ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children remain connected to their culture, family, community, and Country during difficult times. By supporting carers and families, we help create nurturing environments where children can build confidence, maintain their cultural identity, strengthen family relationships, and develop a strong sense of belonging. Our goal is not only to provide immediate care and stability but to help children and families achieve positive, long-term outcomes.
Meet the Team
Project Manager
Meet Megan
I am a proud Torres Strait Islander woman, born and raised in Mackay, with family connections to Darnley Island. I first joined MARABISDA in 2017 in an Administration Support role, before returning in 2019 to continue my journey. I have worked as a Carer Support Worker and, in 2023, was given the opportunity by Adrienne Barnett to step into the role of Manager for Piccaninny, where my passion truly lies.
I am deeply committed to advocating for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children within the Child Safety system. I support our kinship and general carers to maintain stable placements, with a strong focus on reunification so children are not moved from home to home. While we may not make the final decisions, at Piccaninny we ensure our voices and the voices of our families – are heard.
Foster Carer Support
Meet Tina
I have been in the Carer Support position at Piccaninny for 10 years. In my role, I advocate and support foster carers to sustain placement stability within their homes, by providing ongoing assistance to monitor progress and inform care planning. I value the opportunity to work alongside children/young people in care and support their development through to young adulthood to ensure their needs are met.
Foster Carer Support
Meet Danielle
I have been a part of the Piccaninny team for 3 years as a Foster Carer Support Worker, supporting Carers and their families in their journey as Foster/Kinship carers. My support includes monthly home visits, regular phone calls/emails and advocating for carers by keeping open communication with stakeholders, child safety etc.
I am also responsible for completing assessment reports for the approval of carers as well as conducting renewal assessments and training ensuring carers continue to meet departmental requirements.
Kinship Carer Support
Meet Nettie
I am a proud Indigenous Woman and a Torres Strait Islander Descendant with a strong connection to community and Culture. I have been a member of the Piccaninny Team for the past seven months in my role as Kinship Carer Support Worker.
In this role, I walk alongside kinship carers providing culturally safe support to strengthen families, uphold cultural identity, and promote the safety, stability, and wellbeing of children within their communities.
This work is deeply meaningful to me, as it allows me to give back to community, support our families to stay connected, and help ensure children grow up strong in their identity, culture, and sense of belonging
Kinship Carer Support
Meet Tiomee
I recently joined the Piccaninny Team and have been in the role for the past month. Having spent most of my working career away from home, I made the decision to return to Mackay so I could give back to my community.
I am passionate about supporting carers and look forward to working alongside them, building strong connections, and helping them access the support they need to provide safe, nurturing environments for children and young people.
Ready to Make a Difference?
By opening your home and heart, you can help provide a safe, stable, and culturally connected future for an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child. Contact our team today to learn more about becoming a foster or kinship carer.
