What was the pandemic like for Aussie kids in foster care and their carers?

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2022-11-18 03:00

Australia; New Zealand; NSW

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The COVID-19 pandemic was tough on children, including children living in foster care according to Australian researchers. The team interviewed nearly 900 children, young people and carers before and after the first lockdown restrictions to find out if they were experiencing different challenges due to the pandemic. The researchers say a sizable amount of the children experienced negative impacts on their wellbeing, including impacts other children also shared around their education, social relationships and physical activity but also around having less contact with their birth family. They say many carers also saw a negative impact on their wellbeing as well as their financial capacity to care for the children and their access to support systems.