Who We Are
Adoption Support
The Adoptive, Kinship and Fostering Families Association (AKFFA) is formed and run by parents who have formed their families through adoption and permanent care. We offer support and recommendations for couples and families involved in the ACT local, inter-country adoptions and permanent care programs.
Our President
Hi, I’m Karin MacDonald and I am the President of the Adoptive, Kinship and Fostering Families Association. My husband Brendan and I have a gorgeous nine-year-old son, who we brought home from the Philippines in 2013. We are now officially waiting to bring home a little brother. I have been on the committee since 2014, and I am very excited about helping with the role that the AKFFA plays in supporting families in the adoption and permanent care community in Canberra and region.
Whether you are just starting to look into forming a family through long term fostering, permanent care or adoption; you are waiting to be matched; or you have formed your family, I hope that this website can help to support you. I would encourage you to join the Adoptive, Kinship and Fostering Families Association as we understand this process and the issues you will face in a way that others don’t. We are here to support you!
Our Secretary
Hey there, I am Kylie Cutting. I am the Secretary of the Adoptive, Kinship and Fostering Families Association (AKFFA) in the ACT. My husband, Anthony and I made the decision to become foster parents in 2012. We have provided crisis care, respite care and now are concurrent parents to four beautiful children – 14, 6, 4 and 3-year-old. We are passionate about kinship, foster, permanency and adoption.
The decision to foster wasn’t difficult for Anthony and I. We began our training and armed with our dream and passion began our exciting journey towards making a direct and immediate impact on our community. But as any good parent knows, no amount of training can really prepare you for the challenges of parenting children.
We approach parenting with the mindset, where possible, restoration and preservation of birth family is the primary goal and priority for children entering the child protection system. We remain in the moment to support and love these children no matter what may happen in the future. It is a challenging position not to allow yourself to think about the future and can be emotionally daunting.
Being a concurrent parent involves caring for a child (often under 2 years of age) while restoration to the birth family is explored. But being prepared to become their long–term parents if the child is unable to return to their birth family.
For most families, they get nine months’ notice when a baby is going to come into their world. For Anthony and I – we got one days’ notice for three of our children.
We have experienced the most unexpected, surprising but welcomed new friendships and family since becoming foster parents. The children have other siblings and their foster parents as well as other kin members who are an intricate part of our children’s identity. We holiday, BBQ, general coffee catch ups, swap and share stories, support, clothing etc. with our new extended families.
The AFA membership holds a variety of experiences and journeys. I look forward to 2021 reconnecting with all our families. We are in good company when it comes to adoptive, kinship, foster parents here in Canberra nationally and internationally. Development of support networks through connections at the AFA will assist your children no matter which avenue you chose.
Whether you are just starting to look into forming a family through long term fostering, permanent care or adoption; you are waiting to be matched; or you have formed your family, I hope that this website can help to support you. I would encourage you to join the AFA as we understand this process and the issues you will face in a way that others do not.
We are here to assist and support you to make an informed decision that is right for you and your family!
“It is not easy, but it is worth it.”
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