Child protection advocate addresses IWD event in Raymond Terrace

CHILD protection and foster care were the focus of an International Women’s Day event at the Raymond Terrace Library on 13 March.

The guest speaker was Lake Macquarie’s 2025 Woman of the Year Astrid Hocking, who shared her many accomplishments and initiatives as a child advocate.

Ms Hocking’s journey as a foster carer spans more than 24 years.

She has hosted more than 90 children in her family, from newborns to teenagers.

After a visit to the Philippines, she began training staff at an orphanage for trafficked and abandoned children.

There she became involved with the Hearts and Hands Community Development charity, of which she is now the chairperson.

Active in both Australia and the Philippines, Hearts and Hands is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the protection of children.

Its programs include “Community Hearts”, which offers disadvantaged children and their communities the opportunity to learn skills for self-sustainability, and “Umbrella Hearts”, which is an awareness-raising campaign to promote dialogue about child abuse.

Her philosophy is that education is key for adults and children alike.

She argues that many have little understanding that some behaviour is unacceptable and end up passing it on to their children.

“Many people have told me that they got hit as a child and they’re okay,” she said.

“My [response] is ‘that is why you think it’s okay’.”

Ms Hocking is campaigning for politicians to improve the state of the foster care system.

“From the time I got involved the system has been in crisis, it’s just that the crisis got worse.”

She is hopeful that a difference can be made by educating adults and children and making impactful and lasting changes in disadvantaged communities.

By Nico LOMBARDO