Published on Friday 7 May, 2021

Western Australian Foster Carer, Christine Newton, has been fostering children all her life but says she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“From when I was around 20 years old, my husband and I would provide support to kids that were homeless and living on the street. If a child or young person was in need of a place to stay, then we did our best to provide it,” said Christine.

Seeing just how many children there were who needed a safe and stable home inspired Christine and her husband to become Foster Carers.

“We both wanted to help children and young people and found fostering very rewarding.”

Although Christine and her husband separated in 2003, she’s still determined to make a difference.

Christine has two birth children of her own, and when her older sister passed away at a young age, Christine cared for her sister’s two children. In addition, Christine has provided care for over 35 children in the past 40 years.

After 17 years, Christine retired from her career in the mining industry, where she worked as an Industrial Medic/Safety Officer and in the community as a Volunteer Ambulance Officer, to take on the long-term care of four siblings.

Two of the older siblings have since returned to their birth mother but for the past two and a half years’ Christine has fostered the two youngest boys, Marcus* and Liam*, aged 7 and 9, respectively.

Christine’s advice to others considering becoming Foster Carers is that all you can do is try your best.

“Seeing the difference you can make in a child’s life is the biggest reward. Watching them grow up, get their first job and buy their first home is so fulfilling.”

Christine, who is now a great grandmother, says the boys can be a bit of a handful but she loves them and the joy they bring to her life.

Christine is currently working alongside Lifestyle Solutions to continue Marcus and Liam’s cultural connections and focus on their education.

*Names have been changed for privacy reasons.

Learn about becoming a foster carer.