Despite growing up in a family of 15 children, foster carer Tony says his parents instilled in him and his siblings that there was 'always room for one more at the table'.
"My mum and dad knew there were always others that needed love and care," Tony says of his early years in rural New Zealand
"They brought up another four or five children while we were growing up."
It’s a sentiment his wife of 50 years, Judy, shares and one that has led them to be reunification carers for many children over four decades, first in New Zealand and then in Adelaide after they moved to South Australia in 1988.
The northern suburbs couple were named winners of the Foster Carer of the Year Award at the 2025 SA Child Protection & Family Support Awards (external site).
Nominations are now open for the 2026 SA Child Protection & Family Support Awards (external site), with 10 categories recognising excellence across the sector, including the SA Kinship Carer of the Year, the Young Achiever of the Year and the Regional Impact Award.
As longtime reunification carers, Judy and Tony have dedicated their lives to helping the children and young people who come into their care safely return to their family.
"Sometimes they might be with us for one weekend, other times it’s longer, at maximum it’s two to three years," Judy says.
"It’s so rewarding to help children go back to their families, and to help families maintain that connection.
"A lot of the children we keep in touch with, and they’ll share their school certificates and sport trophies, the things that are important to them, and it’s beautiful."
The couple’s two adult children also warmly welcomed children into the family home, and now their five grandchildren and one great-grandchild do the same.
Their adult niece, who Tony and Judy cared for in a kinship care arrangement, and two young girls they fostered in New Zealand who are now living in Victoria, are also cherished parts of their family.
Last year, Judy and Tony cared for twin boys, keeping them connected to their parents by sending regular updates, supporting them to attend medical appointments, and inviting the boys’ biological parents into their home when transition began as a way of building a relationship with the boys and providing ongoing support.
This dedication – to both the twin boys and their parents – resulted in a successful reunification.
Centacare Catholic Community Services have supported Judy and Tony throughout their reunification carer journey.
The SA Child Protection & Family Support Awards are delivered by the Department for Child Protection (external site) and the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) and will be held at Adelaide Oval on Friday 9 October. Finalists will be announced during National Child Protection Week (external site) in September.
Judy says it was 'lovely' to receive last year’s SA Foster Carer of the Year Award, but that they accepted it "on behalf of every foster and kinship carer in SA who all do a remarkable job".
To find out more and to submit a nomination, visit 2026 SA Child Protection & Family Support Awards (external site).
