A Thirroul couple is encouraging other Illawarra families to consider becoming foster parents, as they prepare to celebrate Christmas with foster son, Aaron.
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Pam and Colin Adams started fostering the now 18-year-old when he was about nine and have loved seeing the transformation in the young man.
"The biggest benefit is seeing the outcomes of nine years' hard work," Ms Adams said.
"He's educated, he knows what a good family looks like and he knows how to have good relationships with people. He also understands the importance of working, is independent and confident in his own abilities."
The high school science teacher and IT worker began their foster care journey 12 years ago, originally doing respite care for a few years then moving on to medium-term caring - which is when Aaron arrived.
"When he first came to us, he thought he was no good at anything and would hide in the cupboard or under a bush outside," Ms Adams said.
"We had to spend a lot of time working on his self-esteem.
"He always really liked sports and he wanted to play rugby league, so the first thing we did was sign him up.
"Then we signed him up to cricket, soccer, swimming - and that's when he really started to shine."
She said the first sign things had taken a turn for the better was the night Aaron got the news he would not return to his birth family.
"We were out for dinner at a restaurant, and I didn't know how he would cope with it," Ms Adams said.
"He just turned to us and said 'oh well, you'd better get used to me'."
Aaron is now in Victoria training to be a diesel vehicle mechanic in the Army and is bringing his girlfriend home for Christmas to meet the family.
Ms Adams has a simple message to people considering fostering: "Don't overthink it. If you have a stable household and a spare bed, do it. It's super rewarding."
The Department of Communities and Justice provides support and training to foster carers and also played a key role in helping to keep Aaron connected with his biological family, working with Pam and Colin.
"They were amazing," Ms Adams said.
"There was lots of psychology and help and we saw him through the worst of it. Whenever we needed anything, the department was always there."
All foster carers receive support and training and an allowance to cover the day to day costs. To learn more about becoming a foster carer and the different types of care visit https://www.myforeverfamily.org.au/
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