Roslyn had long considered becoming a foster carer – but once she started transporting children in care as a volunteer, she knew there was more she could do to help.
The 66-year-old is now offering emergency, short-term and respite placements for children, and between these, she still buckles up in the department’s cars to do her volunteer work.
Sometimes, she says children may be timid and shy when they first meet her, but as they get to know her during trips to school, to meet family members or to appointments, they gradually warm up and develop a trust in her.
“I found the volunteering rewarding when I saw kids who used to be scared, excited and happy to see me,” she says.
This included one little boy who was initially very shy and wouldn’t make eye contact.
“For him to hold his head up and have eye contact with you, and hold your hand crossing the road or walking through a carpark, or for him to come running down the corridor at the childcare centre towards you….it melted my heart,” Roslyn says.
After a few months without seeing each other during the school holidays, Roslyn returned to pick the little boy up from his new school, unsure if he would recognise her.
“He came flying and he said, ‘I missed you’ and I said, ‘I missed you too’, and we just had a big hug. For him to say he missed me, that was just beautiful.”
In the lead up to National Volunteer Week (18-24 May), the Department for Child Protection is celebrating the vital role more than 200 volunteers, including Roslyn, play in creating safe, supportive environments for children and young people in care.
As well as transporting children, she has assisted young people as they work towards getting their provisional drivers’ licences, including supervising one girl over about six months.
“Seeing her graduate from high school, get into uni and get out on her own, that was rewarding to be part of that,” she says.
The volunteer work cemented in Roslyn’s mind that there was more she could do to make a difference – and so, supported by Lutheran Care, she became a foster carer, caring for four children so far.
“I didn’t have anything for a baby or a child, so I had to set up a room and start all over again with the basics you need,” she says.
“I have a grown up daughter – she’s 47 now and she plays a big part in the children’s lives – she’s a big sister, come auntie, come surrogate mother.”
Roslyn loves seeing the children grow and develop while they live with her.
The Department for Child Protection is hosting a special lunch for volunteers across South Australia at Regency Park’s Sunnybrae Estate on Wednesday, 20 May.
Minister for Child Protection Alice Rolls said volunteers played a vital role in the child protection system, offering children and young people connection and stability.
“Their generosity strengthens not only individual lives, but our wider community,” she said.
“I sincerely thank the volunteers who give their time to support children in care, their carers and families.
“Their compassion, patience and commitment make a meaningful difference every day.
“Whether it’s ensuring a child gets safely to a family visit or being a calm, trusted presence during challenging moments, volunteers bring dignity, kindness and reassurance to children when they need it most.”
For more information about foster care, visit fostercare.sa.gov.au, or for volunteering, visit childprotection.sa.gov.au/volunteers
