^{Foster carers Gareth and Andi with their daughter Ariya and Miss K}

It’s probably fair to say Adelaide Hills couple Andi and Gareth didn’t know what they were getting into when they decided to become foster carers.

The couple, who have a 10-year-old daughter Ariya, always planned to take the step.

But the three-day-old unnamed baby girl they picked up from hospital 20 months ago has since been diagnosed with multiple medical conditions.

Miss K, as she’s now affectionately known, is delayed in developing her ability to communicate and has difficulty regulating her emotions. It is possible that in the future she will receive a diagnosis of Autism.

“Did we know we were taking on a little person with that many challenges? No,” Andi said. “Do we regret it? Absolutely no.”

Andi, 36, and Gareth, 41, who the Department for Child Protection is celebrating during World Autism Acceptance Month, are now happily Miss K’s long-term carers.

“We hope she’s going to be with us forever,” Andi said. “Our daughter Ariya is learning so much from having a foster sibling too. They just love each other and are so cute together.”

DCP has more than 400 children and young people in care with a diagnosis of autism.

The department is working hard to strengthen support for them and their carers. This includes partnering with the Office for Autism to deliver a pilot of the Inklings Program.

The Inklings Program supports infants aged 6-18 months with developmental differences that may lead to a diagnosis of autism – such as Miss K.

“She’s more than likely on the spectrum but they don’t classify them at this stage,” Andi said. “We got invited to Inklings when we raised concerns about her communication.

“I can’t fault the program; I was constantly doubting myself but they teach you how to attune to (the child) and build a connection.

“Having someone who comes into your home who understands trauma is great. Disability is something new to me.

“They taught me to come back to where she’s at – to sit in that moment and really get everything out of it. If I say ‘this is a pink dinosaur’, and all she wants to say is ‘rah’, then we say rah.”

One way the program has helped Andi communicate with Miss K, is through a ‘choice board’, something she never thought of.

“She can point to a song she wants to sing, and we sing it together,” Andi said. “It gives her some control over her life.”

Minister for Child Protection Katrine Hildyard praised the dedication and commitment of Andi and Gareth.

“This brilliant couple’s willingness to embrace the profound joy and the challenges of caring for Miss K, along with their dedication to her development and wellbeing, is truly inspiring,” she said.

“Seeing programs like Inklings make a tangible impact by equipping carers with tools to better understand and connect with children, ensuring they feel safe, loved, and supported, is really heartening.

“I am so proud of how we are delivering innovative programs such as Inklings, and ensuring that both children and their carers receive the support and resources they need to thrive, and I am really grateful to Andi and Gareth for how they have opened their hearts and included Miss K in their family.”

Inklings, which will run three years, will be thoroughly evaluated to assess the feasibility of the program beyond 2027.

Andi and Gareth are supported by DCP partner Life Without Barriers.