Foster care updates - February 2026

Carer anniversaries

Congratulations and many thanks to…

Carers who have reached their FIVE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY of caring for Allambi Care 

• Elaine Carter - 18th February 2026

• Colin Dwyer & Laura Barwick - 25th February 2026

Carers who have reached their ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY of caring for Allambi Care  

• Linda & Sean Trigg - 16th January 2026

• Kim Murdock - 30th January 2026

• Mikayla O’Reilly & Chad Staples - 4th February 2026

• Dawn Taylor - 14th February 2026

• Matt Johns - 20th February 2026
  
  

Carer ID Card

Have you received you Carer ID card yet? If not, we need you to supply a head shot photo that you love to your Case worker, and we will do the rest. Handy for free parking at the John Hunter Hospital if you need to take your child or young person.

Training Calendar for March, April & May

10^th March  - 10am to 1pm - Secure versus Insecure Attachment Styles in Children in Care

We all develop an attachment style, and children entering foster care are often prone to insecure attachment. How can we recognise their attachment patterns, and how can we support them to become “earned secure”?

RSVP by 06.03.2026

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8^th April - 10am to 1pm - FUN DAY at Blackbutt.

Join us for a day of fun at Blackbutt Reserve. We have booked the Creek Shelter and look forward to seeing you all. Snacks, drinks and a BBQ lunch will be provided. Come along and enjoy the company of other carers and kids as well as experiencing the animals and new amenities.

RSVP by 02.04.2026

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23^rd April - 10am to 12pm - Carer Catch Up Morning Tea

23^rd April is the date for the second morning tea of the year held in our Treetops meeting room. We provide a space for carers to catch up with each other and enjoy a delicious morning tea from the café. There may be some activities that you can participate in or, you can just sit and relax. Come along and spend time with other Carers.

RSVP by 17.04.2026

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6^th May – 6pm to 7pm Carer Insight Hub

The Carer Insight Hub ensures that the voices of carers are heard, valued, and reflected in decisions that affect Foster Carers, children, young people, and families connected to Allambi Care. It provides a structured and inclusive platform for Carers to:

• Share lived experiences and insights

• Inform and influence service design, delivery, and policy

• Advocate for carer needs and priorities

• Strengthen collaboration between carers and Allambi Care

If you would like to join the Hub, please contact mel.cumkovski@allambicare.org.au to register your interest and receive login details.

Have you joined our Facebook Group yet?

In today’s digital age, we know how important it is to stay connected—and that’s exactly why we’ve launched this page: to share news, updates, and opportunities in a way that reaches as many carers as possible, quickly and easily.

This page will be one of our central hubs for:
•    Upcoming events and training opportunities
•    Important updates and news
•    Resources, tips, and support to help you in your vital role

Please email mel.cumkovski@allambicare.org.au or lisa.mccarthy@allambicare.org.au so we can email you an invite link for the group.

Carer Survey October 2025

We asked and you replied - thank you. Here are the results of the survey that you completed last October. We are working towards improving our care and processes based on the results. If you would like to know more, come along to the Carer Insight Hub (see above).

Click here to view the survey.

My Amazing ADHD Brain

We have a new resource on ADHD - My Amazing ADHD Brain by Emily Snape. Over the next few months, we will feature pages from the resource for you to read with your young person and perhaps develop new ways of living with ADHD.

⭐Click here to download the PDF.

First Carer Morning Tea for 2026

The first morning tea for the year was held on February 24^th. The morning was very enjoyable and, full of babies to cuddle for those of us who love doing that. The café again provided a yummy morning tea, and the no obligation activity for the session was a short practice of Yoga Nidra led by Megan Spencer. Fun fact of the day was that 20 minutes of Yoga Nidra is equal to two hours of sleep!

Carer for Kids Training Calendar

Carers for Kids has many training opportunities available, and all training is free for authorised foster and kinship carers, guardians and adoptive parents from out-of-home care. Follow the link for a calendar of what’s available.

Click here to view the calendar.

Parks And Playgrounds with Shade

If you feel like a park visit during the summer months.

Bake a Chocolate Weet-bix slice with the kids.

An oldie but a goodie. Easy to make and can be adapted for any time of year. Easter? Top with mini eggs. Christmas? Top with crushed candy canes. Don’t have time to fuss- sprinkle with coconut or sprinkles.

Ingredients

• 4 Weet-Bix, crushed
• 1 ¼ (185g) self-raising flour, sifted
• 1/2 cups (110g) brown sugar
• 1/2 (40g) desiccated coconut, plus 2 tbsp extra
• 1/4 cup (25g) dutch-processed cocoa powder
• 185 grams butter, melted

Icing

• 1 cup (160g) icing sugar mixture
• 2 tablespoon Dutch-processed cocoa powder
• 20 softened butter
• 2 tablespoon boiling water

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan-forced. Grease a 20cm x 30cm slice pan; line base and sides with baking paper, extending paper 2cm over long sides.
2. Place WeetBix, flour, sugar, coconut, cocoa and butter in a large bowl; mix well to combine.
3. Press Weet-Bix mixture into pan. Bake for 25 minutes or until firm to touch. Cool in pan.
4. Meanwhile, to make icing, sift icing sugar and cocoa into a small bowl. Add butter and the boiling water; mix until smooth.
5. Spread icing over cooled slice; sprinkle with extra coconut. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until icing sets.
6. Transfer slice to a chopping board and cut into 24 squares.