Over the past three years the Croydon couple have opened their door to dozens of children in need of care.

Mr and Mrs Slamin, who have three adult children, are foster carers with Anglicare Victoria - a service that provides a safe and supportive home to children who have been abused or neglected by their parents.

Mr Slamin said they decided to become foster carers after seeing a television advertisement for Anglicare.

"The ad was talking about the need for it and our kids had grown up and moved out so we had the available space.

"We went to an information night and a series of training nights where an experienced social worker sat down and spoke about the needs of young people, how adolescent brains work, any legal problems and things like that."

Mr Slamin, 65, said it was important to set boundaries and rules, but also to understand what the child was going through.

"It's because you have their best interests at heart and you have to get that message through to them. Sometimes they want to talk to you about it, sometimes they don't, but you never press them."

Mr Slamin said he and his wife tried not to allow saying goodbye to foster children to become hard.

"The longer you've got the child with you the more attached you seem to become. But when you're doing it only short-term, you know they're going to leave.

"You do what you can to help them but you know they're not yours, they're not staying with you and they'll move on - you can't become heartbroken.

"We aim to rehabilitate them back into family life."

Mr Slamin described being a foster carer as a rewarding experience.

"To provide that stability and safety to an adolescent and see them arrive a bit teary and shell-shocked or unsure and apprehensive, to seeing them blossom out after a couple of days, it's a good feeling.

"It can have its ups and downs - your life is rearranged with kids who have commitments like sports, which are very important to keep up so they still have contact with their peers.

"There are so many kids in stress, in need, and not enough carers out there."

Anglicare Victoria is hosting a foster care information session at the Chirnside Park Community Centre, Kimberley Drive, from 7.30-8.30pm on September 7. Details: 1300889335 or www.fostercare.ea stern@anglicarevic.org.au