A Home Full of Heart: Emilia and Marco’s Respite Care Journey
With strong Italian roots, a welcoming home and a passion for helping others, Emilia and Marco have opened their doors to respite foster care, discovering how small moments can make a lasting difference to children and their families.
Family has always been at the heart of life for Emilia and Marco. Alongside raising their 13-year-old son, the couple devote much of their time to volunteering in their community, from coaching young children to supporting people experiencing homelessness. For Emilia and Marco, the decision to become respite foster carers felt natural. Having spent years helping others, they were drawn to the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children and support families who needed a break.
Marco, a cabinet maker by trade, has dedicated considerable time to coaching rugby to children under 10. He has also volunteered to support people experiencing homelessness and participated in special events, including the Miracle League for children with disabilities. Smiling as he reflected on these experiences, Marco said, “I enjoy coaching young kids. It can be a little hard sometimes, but the kids love when I’m coaching them. We noticed there were a lot of kids in foster care through our volunteering, and we have a big heart, so we just wanted to help.”
For Emilia, becoming a respite foster carer had been on her mind for more than four years. Through her involvement in the community, she had met people who were either involved in foster care or had experienced it themselves, inspiring her to explore whether it could be right for her family. “Marco and I have been together 24 years and had one child of our own but always wanted more kids around us in whatever way that could be,” Emilia said. “Through our son’s school we met a lot of children who were in foster care and saw how demanding the sector was and how there is such a shortage of carers.”
Despite being newly approved carers, Emilia and Marco have already welcomed two siblings into their home for respite, embracing the experience wholeheartedly. For Marco, spending time with the young boy brought back the enjoyment he finds in coaching children. “It was a good experience for me; it was similar to when I coach the kids. The boy really wanted to play AFL or other sports with the ball. So, it was lots of outdoor time, kicking the ball and teaching him all about sports,” Marco shared.“It made me feel more alive because my son is a teenager now and he prefers playing with his friends more than playing with me, so having the younger children around made me feel happier.”
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The other child, a little girl, was a completely different experience “She was much quieter and just wanted to be by my side and watch TV”, which Emilia felt was a good fit. Emilia soon discovered that food was one of the simplest ways to help the children feel at home. Family favourites such as polpette (Italian meatballs), homemade pizza and pasta offered a taste of her Italian heritage, showing how a shared meal can bring people together and help children feel comfortable and safe.
The couple heard about Centacare through an acquaintance at their local sports club. From their first enquiry through to completing training, they appreciated the consistent communication and support from the team. The assessment process took about a year, with Emilia and Marco grateful for the flexibility to complete each stage at a pace that worked for their family.
“We were not in a rush, and we are quite busy people, but the process was so accommodating and planned around the pace we could commit to as a family,” Emilia said. “Centacare were very supportive in that.” The couple also valued the training and support they received, particularly in helping them better understand the experiences and needs of children in foster care. Emilia said it was “very useful to learn and understand the psychological side of things”.
One of the biggest challenges for Emilia was introducing the children to new experiences. Naturally adventurous, she loves trying different activities. However, she soon realised that unfamiliar experiences could be daunting for the children, who sometimes lacked the confidence to step outside their comfort zones. While this presented a challenge, it strengthened her determination to ensure they felt supported and enjoyed their time together. The importance of routine was another valuable lesson. “We learned during the training that children like routine, and we had our very concrete example in our first respite placement,” Emilia said. “The children’s long-term foster care family has the same meals every week, so the children have become accustomed to that predictability.”
For the couple, this was a learning experience. While they were keen to introduce new activities, they also recognised how important familiar routines could be in helping the children feel safe and settled. Nicole, the couple’s support practitioner, said Emilia and Marco had responded thoughtfully to the children’s individual needs. “The way Emilia and Marco adapted to the children’s needs was really good; they were really in tune with what the children wanted and needed.” Reflecting on a particularly memorable moment, Emilia recalled that the little girl offered her a bracelet, a gesture she found incredibly kind. On the final day, at school pick-up, the little girl asked to give Emilia a hug – something that had not happened earlier in the five-day stay. For Emilia, it was a small but meaningful moment that demonstrated how trust can develop over time.
The couple are looking forward to their next respite placement, which is currently being planned, and to welcoming the siblings back into their care more regularly. They hope to take the children to an Aboriginal cultural event called Colour Fun Day and explore a range of parks, museums and libraries across Adelaide, creating opportunities for new experiences while continuing to provide a familiar and welcoming environment.
When asked what advice they would offer prospective respite carers, Emilia and Marco emphasised the importance of patience, keeping an open heart and being willing to learn. “It is so rewarding. It’s just such a good feeling; you sleep more peacefully knowing you’ve done something good for a child and given their full-time carer a break so they can rest and recharge too.”
Jenny Boyle, Placement Manager, said respite carers played a vital role in supporting foster families and helping children remain connected to a strong network of care. “Respite carers play a vital role in supporting the wellbeing of foster families. By providing planned breaks, they help carers recharge and continue offering safe, nurturing care to children and young people. With more than 4,800 children in care, we urgently need more respite carers so that every child can remain connected to a strong support network and every foster family has the support they need.”
For Emilia and Marco, respite care is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference, one child, one shared meal and one moment of connection at a time.
If you are interested in becoming a respite foster carer, please contact our friendly team, by visiting our website or call 08 8159 1400 to learn more.
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