60 years ago a small group of concerned parents met in Tamworth Town Hall and formed the Tamworth and District Handicapped Children’s Association and School. Since then the community support service has grown, adapted and improved and is now one of the largest operating in NSW.
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Challenge Community Services has 68 sites across NSW, a workforce of over 620 people, including 85 employees with a disability, and is the fourth largest provider of out-of-home care in NSW providing services to over 500 children. With nearly 20,000 children in NSW in need of out-of-home care, being a foster carer and nurturing vulnerable young people is a hugely rewarding experience as Nathan and Emma Heckendorf can attest.
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With three sons of their own, the family has found room in their home for children who do not have the same opportunities, and have provided short term respite and long term placement for more than ten children. Emma said that fostering a child is a rewarding experience for all parties involved. “The reward for our patience can be as simple as a smile or a thank you but if a child with behavioural problems has been able to cope and be happy with life that’s a huge reward in itself.”
There is always support available for those looking at becoming a foster carer. “We have very supportive friends and family who we can count on at anytime,” Emma said. “We know we can contact Challenge at any time, and they provide us with training and other services such as counselling if we need it.”