When Elena Lindfield Seagar first saw a foster care advertisement in the newsletter of her son’s high school, she had no idea that it was the beginning of a carer journey that would span 24 years. She and her husband, David, and their children, decided that fostering was one way they could make a difference as a family in the lives of others. 

They originally signed up to offer crisis and respite care, and looked after many children from varying circumstances during their time as foster carers. 

“Some were truly in crisis, with just an overnight stay, arriving in the middle of the night,” recalls Mrs Lindfield Seagar, who attends St Paul’s, Castle Hill. “Some were days, some were weeks, and some were longer. Due to circumstances with particular little ones, that changed quite naturally into short-term care when it seemed best for the child.” 

Anglicare is entering its 51st year of providing foster care. Since beginning the program in 1974, over 1000 families have stepped up to provide safe and stable homes for children in need. More than 3500 children have been cared for, and many reunited safely with their families through the Family Preservation & Restoration Program. 

The Anglicare foster program has always been committed to care for vulnerable children as a practical expression of faith. It is a way for individual Christians, their church networks, and Anglicare, to partner together in the values Christ exemplified – the importance of children, protecting the vulnerable, sacrifice for the sake of another, and showing compassion to the needy. 

The need is great, so the organisation’s foster care division is always busy. “Anglicare’s ongoing work to advocate for and raise awareness about the needs of vulnerable children will continue, as we seek to address a sector that is in crisis,” says Simon Miller, the CEO of Anglicare Sydney. 

Part of raising awareness includes the promotion of “foster circles”, which aim to build a framework for churches to promote foster care, be involved and offer practical support to families in the parish who are fostering children. 

“Demographically, Christian families are among the most likely to become carers, and we hope that the additional awareness and support provided will be instrumental in helping meet this urgent need,” Mr Miller says. 

On average, more than 300 children in NSW require emergency accommodation every night. Meredith Donkin, Anglicare’s Foster Care Relationship Lead, sees a great opportunity for the Sydney Diocese to play a pivotal role in addressing this urgent need.  

“With over 300 churches in the Sydney Diocese alone, if each of our churches raised up one well-supported foster care family, we could empty those motels and rewrite the story of foster care in our community,” she says. 

Although the Lindfield Seagars are no longer actively fostering, they are thankful for the many lives they were able to impact. 

“Some of the questions we were asked over the years included, ‘How can you let [the child] go?’,” Mrs Lindfield Seagar recalls. “My response? We have no choice. That’s part of the deal. It’s a very real pain, but the real pain is outweighed by the joy we gained from our relationship with them, from meeting their needs, and giving them a firm foundation and the love and security they so desperately needed. 

“We have come to a place now where life has changed, so we are no longer caring. I particularly miss it. We won’t ever lose interest in little ones around us. God gave us a heart for them, and we continue to connect and pray.”