Peer Support & Advocacy Team
Members of our team include
Peer Workers, Student Social Workers, and a Service Manager.
PEER WORKERS
Our peer workers have their own experiences of child protection and out-of-home (OOHC) systems. They have had children restored to their care. They are a great bunch of people. Each has their own set of stories to tell about their experiences so they are valuable for many different parents. They care a lot about the experiences of other parents and family members and they are great listeners.
Felicity
With experience of having my own three children taken into care, I understand the struggle parents go through when dealing with the child protection system. I turned my life around, improved my relationships with my children and have had two of my children restored to my care. I am dedicated to helping other parents understand child protection and hope to link them with information to make the process easier.
Rach
I am a mother of six children who has experienced the child protection system first hand. I have been through the system and had all my children returned to my sole care. I have seen how isolating and hard the struggle is for parents trying to better themselves and understand and fix the reasons for their children’s removal. It is now my passion to help other parents in this journey and achieve better outcomes for parents and children.
Marlee
I have four beautiful children. My children were placed in care eight years ago. I have one child in my care full time, and I spend time with my other three children. It was a difficult and emotional journey, and I now understand the importance of having a great support network. I’d like to support parents by sharing my story and giving advice, hope and a sense of understanding to those who need it most.
Kaylah
I am a mother of three boys. I experienced all my children being in the out-of-home care system for roughly six years. One child was removed at birth. There is definitely a lot of ups and downs whilst navigating the system and different workers. I am here to support families going through the system and I am dedicated in providing emotional support and lived experience guidance throughout this process. There is light at the end of the tunnel.
Laura
I’m a mum of three children. My two eldest kids were put into care for seven years. My youngest child was never removed. While my children were in care, I did a lot of work on my mental health and parenting skills to become the parent my kids need me to be. It is because of my experiences that I want to help and support other parents to keep bonds with their children and feel supported while going through the system. I also volunteer with a chronic illness charity.
STUDENT SOCIAL WORKERS
Watch this space – new students starting in 2023.
SERVICE MANAGER
Lou
I am a social worker. I have been involved with FISH since its early days, originally as an ally to help consolidate FISH workshops for workers and carers, then as a committee member, and now as the manager of our new support and advocacy service. FISH is critically important to ensuring children have relationships with their parents and family during and after their time in care. This is fundamental to children and young people’s identities and wellbeing. I value inclusion of parents and family in planning and decision making about their children’s interests. I am dedicated to developing parents who have moved into leadership and support roles.
FORMER STUDENT TEAM MEMBERS
2022: Stella Flick & Sequoia Ellis, Third Year Social Work students, University of Newcastle.
2022: Jess Parr & Kelli Shaunessy, Fourth Year Social Work students, University of Newcastle.
Our peer support and advocacy service was made possible by the