“She Believed in Me”: A Mum’s Journey Through Parent & Child Fostering

Going into a Parent & Child Assessment

When Mirabella entered a parent and child foster placement in September 2024, she arrived determined to face her situation with an open mind. “I came from court, and I realised... there’s no change. I had to be here,” she shared. “So I had to ‘mentalise’ myself - this is it. I didn't want to come with a negative attitude, even if I was a little bit not open inside.”

Mirabella was welcomed into the home of Lorraine, her parent and child foster carer, with warmth and acceptance. “She came outside... she looked beautiful, you know, looking after herself.

For me, I go, ‘she's a lady’. And she was like, ‘Oh, you're beautiful!’ and just hugged me... That just relaxed me automatically.”

The Freedom to Feel at Home

The care and emotional safety Lorraine provided allowed Mirabella to settle in and feel at home. “She gave me this freedom to make this house like mine. So then you feel at home, and when you feel at home, then you can be yourself.”

Rather than instructing or correcting, Lorraine’s support came through gentle guidance. “She never told me, ‘do this like that’. I learned because I saw her doing it,” Mirabella explained. “She was always there, on standby if I needed her.”

Focusing On My Job As A Mum

Parent and child fostering is designed to support new parents through the challenges of early parenthood - and for Mirabella, this placement proved invaluable. “My job is to be a mum, and I've been allowed to do that. And that was thanks to her,” she said. “I was under a parenting assessment. I’d made some mistakes... but she allowed me to show that I’m not that person.”

Looking back, Mirabella reflects with gratitude: “She made me feel like it’s not that bad. It’s normal. And that’s very important.”