CatholicCare partnered with other local social service orgainisations to take part in a research project led by the University of Wollongong on the topic of foster carer marketing and recruitment.

For the past nine years a research team led by Associate Professor Melanie Randle from the School of Management, Operations and Marketing, has worked alongside Illawarra social service agencies, CareSouth, CatholicCare Wollongong and the William Campbell Foundation to conduct research on the topic of foster carer marketing and recruitment. 

The project was initiated in response to the urgent need for more foster carers in order to accomodate for the increasing number of children needing foster homes. The objective of the research partnership was to utilise marketing concepts to target individuals who are likley to be most suited to the role and who are also able to provide very high quality care. 

The research project provided CatholicCare will invaluable practical tools to enable our orgainisation to attract foster carers more effective and to in turn provide the types of stable and nuturing homes that foster children need to achieve postive long term outcomes. Since the partnership began CatholicCare has tripled the number of children placed with foster families. 

At the Partnerships for Impact Launch on 31 August 2017 at the University of Wollongong, Toni Lea-Howie CatholicCare Wollongong's Carer Recuitment & Support Coorinator was invited to speak on behalf of the orgainisation. Toni expressed that:

"The research findings helped me understand who our target markets are, people's motivation to become carers, the qualities of a good carer, and the most effective advertising to attract them. This has assisted us in recruiting carers of a high calibre which maximises the success and stability of those placements so children can thrive and reach their potential." 

Pictured left to right: CatholicCare Wollongong Carer Recruitment and Support Coordinator, Toni Lea-Howie and Associate Professor, Melanie Randle at the Research Engagement & Impact Forum at the University of Wollongong, 31 August 2017.

CatholicCare welcome's further opportunities for research partnerships in the future to ensure that we always maintain our core focus - to work in the best interests of children. 

If you are interested in becoming a Foster Carer with CatholicCare or would like more information please click here.