Page 4126 - Week 15 - Thursday, 17 December 1992
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In Sarah's case, Madam Speaker, her mother's whereabouts is not known, and her father died eight months ago. The Christmas break will be her first opportunity to visit her father's grave and really begin the grieving process. Bert Huber said:
Sarah could stay with her grandmother for a couple of days, and there is an aunt as well in South Australia, but there's the question of who will pay for her to get there. We have another family with two foster kids and two of their own. They're going away for a fortnight at Christmas and it is going to cost them an extra $400 each for their foster kids to go too.
Co-worker Roger Foster added:
There's another foster-child who is intellectually disabled and wants to spend Christmas with her grandfather but we know it will be too much for him after a few days. And another one will be going home to visit her mother in Dubbo, but we will be waiting for the call because every time they see each other, it breaks down. Several of the kids have parents in gaol as far away as Bathurst, and that means someone has to make a day trip so they can visit for a few hours. We will be wearing our pagers on Christmas Day.
There is also the problem of what to do if the natural parents want to see the foster-child for a day, or even just a few hours, but the foster family is going away and there is no money for return bus or plane fare on Christmas Day. Then there are presents. Bert Huber says, Madam Speaker:
If a family's natural children want bikes, do they give them bikes and not their foster children? And if they do give "evenly" grandparents are still likely to flood the natural kids with presents. Lots of our kids have never had anything nice given to them.
It is difficult, too, for children in foster care to give presents. Some will be able to make gifts; few can afford to buy them. Bert has been working with disadvantaged young people for 13 years and each year he approaches Christmas with a heavy heart, knowing the stress it will cause the foster families, natural parents and kids. I am happy to say that a donation has been made for Sarah's travel arrangements, but more is needed.
Open Family also operates satellite housing, Madam Speaker - semi-independent living for teenagers who have been homeless or disadvantaged and are now developing living skills. Some can go home for Christmas, but others do not have that option. If two of three residents in one satellite house do go home, one young person is left on their own. Mr Huber says:
The joy of Christmas is bought, not taught and we can say, "Oh, that's not true" all we like but if we're going to let kids sit at home alone eating baked beans, that's wrong - there is no equity.
There is pressure, too, to keep the agency's refuge CANA - Caring for Adolescents in Need of Assistance - House open during the holiday period. To do that, staff and volunteers have to give up their own Christmas because most of the chronically homeless young people at CANA House do not have the
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