Our Story

Who We Are

In early 2003, retired social worker Joe Goerke commenced providing counselling, support and advocacy services to parents with children in ‘out of home care’ i.e. foster care. This voluntary service was delivered through the Gosnells Community Legal Centre. He soon linked up with other like-minded professionals, Erica McKinnon a social worker and Sharynne Hamilton a housing support worker. They were part of an informal group called Parents of Children in Care (POCIC); and met on a monthly basis at Anglicare WA’s community centre Daisy House in Girrawheen.

This group of professionals, alongside the parents they were supporting, met with other service providers to plan and implement a way forward for the eventual development of a specialised service to meet the unique, varied and overwhelmingly complex needs of parents with children in care.

 

While movement was occurring here in Perth a similar group was meeting in Townsville, Queensland calling themselves the Family Inclusion Network (FIN). A link between the two groups was quickly formed and it was decided the Western Australian group adopt the same name to ensure national consistency with the notion that one day national networks would exist around the country

In October 2006 the Perth group registered the association name ‘The Family Inclusion Network of Western Australia Inc.’ (Fin WA Inc.). Following incorporation of the association, its volunteer members promptly commenced distributing communications to referring and helping professionals requesting they become members. Within six months the group had rapidly grown into one with over 60 members of which many were academics and professionals from the community service field.  A management committee comprised of six individuals with professional and lived experience was formed.

Fin WA participated in a community ‘Open Space’ event to discuss the increasing numbers of babies being removed from their mothers at birth. This meeting further identified the need for parents involved in child protection systems to have independent advocates. .

On behalf of Fin WA, Anglicare WA submitted an application for a research grant from Lotterywest to examine the experience of parents with children in foster care. This application was successful and the research paper was completed in 2007 by Associate Professor Maria Harries. This research provided the basis upon which further funding applications were made.

Further lobbying and demonstration of need was made to key politicians in particular to Sue Ellery, the then Minister for Child Protection; Communities, Women’s Interests; Seniors and Volunteering. In early 2008 (the now) Department of Communities agreed to fund the establishment of an organisation; a further successful application was made to Lotterywest which provided funding for first year of service delivery in October 2008.

In October 2009 the Department of Child Protection & Family Support entered into a service agreement with Fin WA. The decision to accept funding from a statutory authority was not taken lightly.  Following thorough consultation with Fin WA members and other stakeholders a decision was made to accept the agreement on the grounds that the funding provided an opportunity for the voice of parents to be heard thereby allowing parents to have a legitimate and rightful place within the child protection system.

Foundation CEO – Debbie Henderson

Parent Experience

‘It all feels so hopeless’ When children have been removed from their home, parents and family members are often traumatised and in shock. It is an extremely stressful and despairing time. Parents often don’t know what to do, who to talk to or who to trust. Feelings experienced rage from; 
  • Anger
  • Shock
  • Isolation
  • Shame
  • Failure
  • hopelessness
  • powerlessness
  • Guilt
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