Foster Care Week 2024 | Spotlight on foster carers Tara and Peter Krakowski

Tara (50 years old) and Peter (58) are the parents of two adult children – a daughter (28 years) and son (31 years) and also currently looking after five kids aged 10, 9, 6, 4 and 3. They have been foster carers for over 12 years, most recently with Baptcare. While our conversation was with Tara, Peter endorsed her responses shared below. They are the ultimate team! “Peter’s such an amazing carer,” said Tara. “He’s very much the other half and we are a team.”

What led you into foster caring?

Years ago, my sister was a receptionist at a youth health service. She’d often tell me about children she met there and I thought – where are the people to help these kids? It really resonated with me and made me think that there had to be something better for these kids and that they needed some help.

It’s not right for kids to have to choose between looking after their siblings at home or going to school.

Then I read an advertisement in the Mercury about foster caring and it got my interest.

We had teenage children then so the time was right. I went along to an information session, did the training, assessments and six months later Peter and I welcomed our first foster child. And the rest, as they say, is history! That was over 11 years ago.

How would you describe your experience? Was it as you expected?

It was wonderful! Our first foster child was 18 months old and we looked after him for six days and then his little sister arrived as a newborn. We looked after her for up to two years until they were reunified with their parents. It’s so rewarding having kids leaving happy, healthy, confident.

What is it that you like about it?

I feel like I’ve found my niche in life – it’s what I feel that I’m meant to be doing. It’s just a good fit, you know? My only regret is that I didn’t start sooner.

We’ve raised amazing kids and if we can help one child, that’s enough.

What is your family background? Have you come from very caring roots?

Tara: I come from an open and welcoming family.

Since we’ve become foster carers, my folks have done training and are doing respite care. My son and his fiancé are also foster carers with Baptcare awaiting their first placement. My sister is a respite carer, too. It’s all in the family!

Do you have a standout positive experience to share? 

We looked after a four-day old baby boy for five weeks and that was very emotional. We’re still in contact – he’s now 4 – we get updates from his family and that’s doing well. This means a lot.

How do you process having to say goodbye to your foster children?

You just do it. You’ve just got to get on with life.

Our mission is to love them like our own while we have them in our home.

What has your experience as foster carers with Baptcare been like? And yes, you can be honest!

It has been wonderful! The first things that Baptcare asked us were – what do you need? What can we do for you? We hadn’t been asked those questions for so long.

Our Baptcare support worker – Elle Daley – is just so amazing too. She is just so supportive and easy to talk to. I call her my person.

(Tara laughs) I try not to be high maintenance but when I need her I really need her and she’s always there.

What does this year’s Foster Care Week theme ‘Today’s Carers/Tomorrow’s Future’ mean to you?

We’re currently looking after three kids until they’re 18. We’re long-term carers – we’re setting up their future.

They’re all neurodivergent but they’ll all be encouraged to lead their best life and be the best versions of themselves.

We won’t be asking them to leave when they’re 18. They can stay with us for as long as they want.

Our home is their home – it’s the only home they’ve known and it can be their home forever if they choose it.

What would you say to anyone thinking about becoming a foster carer?

Do it but go in with open eyes. The expectations are so different to the reality. I still feel like we’re the newbies on the block. There’s always so much to learn – every child is different – every case is different.

How would you describe your life?

Our foster care family life is messy, shouty and crazy but it’s loving, caring and wonderful at the same time.

If I had to describe our family, I’d say we’re all inclusive and pretty normal. I’m probably a hard mum – I’m pretty firm but fair.

We’ve got appointments with all the kids – many on NDIS – so, sometimes it’s hard to work out but generally it just works.

What keeps you going as foster carers?

What makes it worth it for us despite all the frustrations – and yes, you have bad days like any family does – particularly when there’s a full moon (laughing) – is when you get a hug from your foster care kids – it makes it all worth it.

Or you’ll just be walking along and one of the kids will just grab your hand and say, “I love you”.

You don’t do the caring for recognition. You do it because it’s really fulfilling. We don’t think we’re anything special but we do feel like we’re doing some good.

Thank you, Tara and Peter, for all that you do. Your caring makes the future a better and brighter place, and that is something very special.

If you’d like to become a foster carer and see a child thrive, flourish and prosper, please call:

Tasmanian Foster Care team | 0417 196 605

Victorian Foster Care team | 0409 591 895

Or you can find out more about foster caring on our website.