Winner of Child Protection Week Award makes impact in her community
Churches of Christ foster carer, Kathryn Rodda, is based in Hervey Bay and has been a carer for Churches of Christ with her husband, Andrew, since 2017. This year has brought some unexpected but exciting news.
In recognition of her volunteer efforts, we are delighted to announce that Kathryn has won a Queensland Child Protection Week Award in the category of Volunteer: Invaluable contributions to child protection made by a volunteer working in government or nongovernment agencies. Kathryn travelled with her husband Andrew and their family down to the event in Brisbane. The event was held at Parliament House on 4 September 2025, and they were excited to attend.
The road of being a foster carer is not always easy, but Kathryn shares, “My husband and I have a love for kids and giving kids the best life that they can have”.
Supported by Churches of Christ’s Fraser Coast Foster and Kinship Care Service, Kathryn and Andrew have cared for about 50 children over the past eight years.
Being a carer takes a lot of strength and patience. Kathryn adds, “It is a tough gig; I’m not going to lie that it’s easy. But seeing the kids develop and grow for whatever time you have them, is just so rewarding.”
The award celebrates both Kathryn’s contribution as a foster carer, and her volunteering for the ‘Hope in a Suitcase’ initiative.
‘Hope in a Suitcase’ is a not-for-profit organisation that gives children entering foster or kinship care a suitcase that includes essentials like toiletries, underwear, pyjamas, a change of clothes, and comforting items such as a teddy, a toy, and a journal or colouring book. The organisation operates in NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and QLD. Kathryn volunteers her time and leads the program across the Fraser Coast region.
Kathryn became involved with ‘Hope in a Suitcase’ after connecting with a foster carer on the Gold Coast in 2020. This carer was involved with the organisation, and Kathryn identified the need for a service in her area. She sought further details on how this could be started and was asked to take on the role. Since then, Kathryn has been involved with the charity, supplying suitcases that include care packages, clothes and toys to children entering care in the region to support children and show them they are valued and cared for.
Kathryn Rodda, Churches of Christ foster carer, enjoying a celebratory morning tea with Churches of Christ staff at Kenmore in Brisbane.
As to winning the award, Kathryn shared,
“It’s a bit surreal. I don’t do it, you know, to put my name out there. I just do it because we love these kids, and they need us to look after them for a while.”
Thanks to Kathryn’s efforts, every young person that enters care in the Fraser Coast region, does so with a suitcase of their own, which gives them a safe and secure place to hold their belongings during their foster care journey.
Kathryn and her husband Andrew balance their time as foster carers with devoting time to ‘Hope in a Suitcase’, and various work commitments.
We are grateful for foster carers like Kathryn and her husband Andrew, for their dedication to foster caring, and for the positive difference they are making to the lives of children and young people in their community.