Anatia is 20 years old. She has been in a foster home since she was a baby, it is part of her story – but it’s far from her whole story. She loves sports, almost all of them, but mainly hockey and netball, which she coaches. She’s also a full-time teacher aide at a primary school.

Anatia comes across as a determined, warm, and smart young woman. When reflecting on her journey in foster care, she keeps a positive memory of it:

“I’ve been in foster care my whole life, it’s been pretty good.”

All tamariki, including Anatia, deserve to be safe and nurtured. Unfortunately, not all children experience this. So, sometimes tamariki and rangatahi need additional safe and caring people in their lives. This is when our foster care service comes in, and this is how Anatia came into contact with Barnardos, through the carers we have found for her.

It takes a village to raise a child and, while Anatia had long-term carers Barnardos found for her, she also had respite carers making up that village. Respite caregivers provide tamariki in care a temporary home where they experience a fun few days a week or a month with an aunty or uncle-like figure. Being a respite caregiver plays an important role in the growth and development of the tamariki and it also leaves them with unforgettable memories.

“Respite care was always fun. It gave you the opportunity to have a break from your permanent caregivers and kept you busy because we always did exciting activities, like going to the beach and visiting the park. It was more of a weekend getaway,” says Anatia.

“It was a lot more chill because they [respite carers] don’t play a parent role and you feel like you don’t have to be this perfect child all the time,” says Anatia.

Anatia has one final piece of advice for other tamariki in care:

“Try to trust the process, they are there to help you and not there to hurt you. They just want to help kids out that need the help.”

Anatia's journey through Barnardos' Foster Care Services