Jane Gibbs with her family after being named woman of the year. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
Yenda’s Jane Gibbs has fostered more than 100 children. She is also one of the few Riverina residents to have successfully adopted a child.
The Gibbs family adopted Damien when he was nine years old – following an eight-year process that commenced when 14-month-old Damien was placed in their care.
As Riverina-based Out of Home Care (OOHC) providers desperately try to plug the shortage of foster carers, Ms Gibbs wants to see more families put their hands up.
“If you’ve ever wanted to be a foster carer, or adopt a child, now’s the time to find out more,” Ms Gibbs said.
“You can go along to information sessions provided by groups like [OOHC provider] Care South to see if it’s for you.
“Our family has taken in children for a few days [respite care] and others for much longer. It’s incredible how showing a little care can change a life forever.
“One child we cared for many years ago recently tracked me down to let me know she was studying at university. When she originally was placed with us, she could barely read.”
Ms Gibbs said you should not be deterred if you already have kids.
“My husband Jamie and I have three biological children, two boys and a girl. Our kids loved it when we brought foster care children into our home,” she said
“My daughter, Megan, enjoyed sharing her room with girls – for her, it was like having a sister for the first time.
“Fostering has helped my children grow up to be well-rounded individuals.”
According to Ms Gibbs, it’s no coincidence that Megan became a nurse at Griffith Veterinary Hospital, where she worked to rehome animals.
Ms Gibbs has balanced her foster caring duties alongside a career as a caseworker for Care South and then as an NDIS area coordinator for disability provider Intereach.
In 2019, she was named women of the year for the Murray electorate for her lifetime service to the community.
Damien and Jane Gibbs. Photo: Supplied.
Ms Gibbs said the main challenge for foster carers is “preparing yourself for when the child is going to leave”.
“What we do as foster carers is support children until they can return to their birth families,” she explained.
“You need to realise that upfront. Restoration, where possible, is the main goal.”
A special touch Ms Gibbs provided to each of her 100-plus foster children was to sneak a photo memory into their luggage just before they left her home.
“Foster children often move from home to home frequently, so they don’t have many tangible memories of their life journey,” Ms Gibbs said.
“I liked to give them something – a photo with the family at Easter, a birthday image – so they’d remember their experience in our home.”
For some children, however, it’s impossible to return to their biological families.
“We made the decision to adopt Damien,” Ms Gibbs said.
“At the time, adoption was extremely rare, and the process was complicated. It took eight years to finalise all the paperwork.
“Thankfully, there are now reforms in place to streamline adoption.”
Damien and his two mums. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
Ms Gibbs said it was important for Damien to have what’s now called “open” adoption.
“Damien’s birth mother Dianne remains a part of his life – of all our lives,” she said.
“Dianne is always welcome at our house and Damien can spend time with her whenever he wants.”
Damien, now 15, has always enjoyed having two mums.
“We’re one big happy family. Mummy Dianne, Jamie and I are on the same team – Team Damien,” Ms Gibbs said.
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