Sarah Grainer and her family have cared for more than one hundred foster children over two decades. Some children have required just one weekend of respite, while others have stayed in the Grainers' home for years. Some children arrived with notice. At other times, Sarah has received a call a midnight from government departments seeking her help to take on a child immediately. She is among scores of kind and selfless humans in Australia caring for children who have nowhere else to turn.

Each child has their own story, their own needs and their own potential. Sarah has dedicated much of her life to respecting these stories, meeting these needs and helping these children realise their potential, using hope as her guide.

On this episode of the How Good are Humans podcast, Sarah describes what life can be like for foster carers and the children in care. She also explains some new policies and expectations that are challenging and stretching the care industry to its limits. Finally, she outlines how people can help the situation or support those already involved.

Please share this episode with others if you appreciated the listen.

Seventy-five per cent of Australian children in foster care will not finish school. One in three will be homeless in the first year out of care and even more will not find employment.
Children enter into care after experiencing neglect, abuse or both. This trauma often causes them to be disengaged from education and makes it difficult for them to build healthy relationships with other adults and children.
The foster carers do an enormous task,  but there are many challenges. They need to prepare meals, organise medical appointments, liaise with support workers and government departments, and do the school drop-off and pick-up. They will often have multiple children under the one roof.
The Pyjama Foundation, which was founded in Queensland, ameliorates this situation by pairing affected children with volunteers who help with homework, build self-esteem, teach new skills and act as positive role models. 
The Pyjama Foundation is aligned with the quote “it takes a village to raise a child”.
On this episode, I speak to Joeleen Bettini, the Far North Queensland coordinator for the Pyjama Foundation. We speak about the problems faced by children in care, how the foundation works to help the children and the growing challenge of recruiting volunteers in Australia.

I speak with the team from AFL Cape York House for Girls about their mission to connect Far North Queensland's Indigenous teenagers, who unfortunately face socioeconomic disadvantage, with quality education opportunities and solid, healthy pathways beyond school while keeping them connected to their cultures.

Waynead Wolmby is an outstanding young man from Aurukun, Cape York. He has managed to beat the nation's expectations of a young Indigenous male from a remote community and is now inspiring other youth in his orbit to live fulfilling and healthy lives.
I speak to Waynead about how unique education opportunities helped him launch a good life and how he's gone from a boy sitting in the red Cape York dirt to running marathons overseas. I also get his opinion on the Voice to Parliament proposal. 

Marc Harbrow is a leader in Far North Queensland's social work sector,  and has started several inspiring and wholesome entities and initiatives that focus on youth empowerment, Indigenous empowerment and community wellbeing.
As a teenager, Marc was put through perilous adversity, and he shares how he pushed through and what he did with his new lease on life.
Marc is the brains behind the successful youth engagement program the Fire Project, which motivates disengaged and disempowered children toward positive social outcomes.
In 2022, Marc and his team successfully helped more than 1000 kids in Cairns.
He also gives his opinion on what has driven the Far North's youth crime crisis.

Kim Edwards has truly had a life filled with adventure and benevolent achievement. Her journey has taken her across the world but her story is notably centred on the Middle East. 
She has opened schools and training institutions in Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan and has co-ordinated war relief efforts in Iraq and Lebanon. 
She has also co-ordinated underground endurance events, such as triathlons and marathons, in countries where it is illegal to conduct such events. She was even caught on a couple of occasions.
Kim has narrowly avoided kidnapping, educated the earliest cohorts of Arabic women, represented Australia at the world triathlon championships and is now working with Indigenous Australians in the remote Torres Strait Islands, and there is little sign she is slowing down anytime soon.
She speaks about all of this, and more, on the latest episode of How Good are Humans.
Enjoy!

What kind of thinking goes into cooking the tastiest food, brewing the most satisfying coffees and constructing a distinct hospitality vibe?
Olly James, the owner of three establishments in Cairns, joins me on the podcast to answer those questions.
Olly owns Caffiend in Cairns City, Guyala in Cairns North and Tattooed Sailor in Bungalow where he also runs the Coffee School.
On the podcast we geek out about Guyala's Indigenous themed menu, the constitution of flavoursome food, the creative construction of a menu, the international diversity of food, the history of coffee and other topics.
Enjoy!

Episode 32: Exploring the realm of committing oneself to multiple causes, and sustaining oneself throughout the journey.
On this episode, Lucy Friend introduces us to her life as someone devoted to several causes, both professional and personal, and explains. how she harmonises this high level of proficient  and benevolent output.
Lucy co-ordinates big environmental projects in her job role. She cares for,  raises and rehabilitates injured wildlife. She volunteers as a crisis support worker for Lifeline. She volunteers as a youth support worker for the Pyjama Foundation. She would probably be found at most environmental projects, such as tree planting days and beach clean-ups, in Far North Queensland. While doing all this, she somehow manages to sustain herself.
Lucy truly is an example of someone who has identified their authentic values and embodies those values daily. She shares with us exactly how she does it.
And even if she avoids the term, she really is an inspiration.

Episode 31: Exploring the Great Barrier Reef with Passions of Paradise.
On this episode, Scotty and Russell from Passions of Paradise join me to discuss all things Great Barrier Reef.
Passions of Paradise is an eco-tourism business located in Cairns, Far North Queensland that specialises in aquatic tours of the Great Barrier Reef—diving and snorkelling in particular.
Beyond this, Passions of Paradise is practically concerned with conservation of the reef and the magnificent and massive ecosystem that relies on it.
Scotty, the CEO, describes the fair-dinkum history of Passions of Paradise and its contemporary, locals-focussed operations. He also outlines the key steps in operating as an eco-tourism business, and explains Passions's strategic vision: to transform itself from a tourism business that does conservation to a conservation business that does tourism.
Russell, the Environmental Manager and Master Reef Guide, describes the company's conservation efforts and goals. He also outlines the current health of the Great Barrier Reef, explains the main challenges that it faces and concludes with some recommendations, for all of us, on how to protect and care for this precious resource and World Heritage Site.

To find out more about Passions of Paradise, check out their website: https://passions.com.au
You can also find them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/passionsofparadise

For the 30th episode of the How Good are Humans podcast, I wanted to review the whole project and reflect on its journey to date.
Helping me with this endeavour is my new friend Georgia Krause, who is a wonderful human in her own right. 
Georgia, a regular listener of the podcast, has treaded a fascinating path throughout her life and is no stranger to benevolent adventures. She is currently studying her final year of medicine and also regularly volunteers her time for several causes, including Climate Force and Doctors for the Environment Australia. 
Due to Georgia's powerful talents in curiosity, empathetic listening and insight, she makes for an excellent podcast co-host.
I have no doubt that her future will be defined by positive impact as she continues to embody her core tenet: living a life in service of others.
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To find out more about Climate Force, visit their website: www.theclimateforce.org