Couple give gift of love

Sharan and Barry Winslade pose with 15 cuddly toys each representing one of the 15 children they have fostered in their home.

Claudia Baxter

A BRISBANE Valley couple have been recognised for their extraordinary contribution to Queensland’s most vulnerable children.

Sharan and Barry Winslade have been foster carers for the past three years, and transformed the lives of more than a dozen infants and toddlers.

It is their caring streak and down-to-earth disposition that have seen the pair awarded a Kinship Carer Excellence Award – an award that was given to only seven other foster and kinship carers in Queensland.

“We are very humbled that we were even nominated. There are so many deserving carers our there that do it tough, and when we accepted the award we acknowledged everyone’s efforts,” Mrs Winslade said.

Despite having four children of their own, three of whom still live at home, the pair knew they always wanted to have a big family, and found becoming foster carers the perfect way to achieve their dream and help others.

“Being a foster carer is an emotional rollercoaster, but it is so rewarding in so many ways,” she said. “When the children come to you they are timid and have been through a lot, and with a bit of love and care you see them blossom and grow and become their own person. It’s amazing.”

The pair chose to look after children between the zero to five age-bracket and have cared for a variety of children who require all levels of care.

“We have a disabled girl at the moment and we were told she might not be able to walk, but we have been able to teach her how to gain back her confidence to walk.

“It’s taken a lot of physiotherapy and several visits to the hospital and encouragement, but to see the smile on her face, it makes it all worthwhile,” Mrs Winslade said.

Child Safety Minister Phil Reeves said it was foster carers like the Winslades who are role models.

“The winners are an inspiration to us all, opening their hearts and homes to give vulnerable children a chance to build a better future,” Mr Reeves said.

“Around Queensland, we have more than 4000 carer families providing safe and loving homes to more than 7500 children.”

www.communities.qld.gov.au.