Stories
Fostering Memories on an Aussie Adventure
20 August 2025
This spring, one young person and his foster parent shared a once in a lifetime adventure to Australia and the memories made will forever be etched in their minds.
Kibble Foster Carer Robert opened his heart and family to young Luke two years ago after a period of disruption in Luke’s life. Robert proved to be a rock for young Luke, who now a teenager, is settled, happy and thriving in all areas of his life. To show his pride in what Luke is achieving, and to open his eyes to the wonder and opportunities in the world, Robert planned a special trip to Australia as part of Luke’s fifteenth birthday celebrations.
Adventure Awaits
Encouraged by Luke’s dream to fly with Emirates, as he often watched the enormous jet come into land, Robert got to work to start planning the route to Oz and discover the delights of the infamous East Coast. Robert has enjoyed a life rich of travelling the world and wants to give similar opportunities and experiences to the young people he fosters. To make the trip special from the get-go, Robert kept the trip a surprise and presented a fake trip to ‘Tenerife’ in paper form, only to share a small Emirates souvenir with Australian dollars tucked inside. It took young Luke a little while to catch on, believing the currency to be Euros, but when the penny dropped Luke was in disbelief and overcome with emotion. It was a special gift to demonstrate Robert’s pride in how well he was doing. Luke and Robert were off to Oz, and what’s more, their flight departed in a week’s time! When the day arrived, the pair excitedly made their way to Glasgow Airport to board the flight. When asked what Luke’s favourite part of the holiday was… it was the flight! Extra leg room, a three-course meal, films, a good sleep and the ability to connect to TikTok meant he was heading into Sydney Airport at what felt like the speed of light.
From Sydney to the Gold Coast
With their first destination Sydney, Robert and Luke packed in loads of activities and sightseeing trips to discover the best of this stylish, cosmopolitan city. Luke was in awe as he looked out to the infamous Sydney Harbour Bridge, with the opera house standing tall beside him. Eager to explore, they hopped on ferries to Bondi Beach and Manly taking in the white sandy beaches and watching the surfers riding the waves.
From sea level to mountain peak, they hopped on the steepest railway in the world and ascended the Blue Mountains. The views were incredible, but poor Robert was too busy looking at his feet and avoiding seeing the heights they had scaled to. After three days discovering Sydney and surroundings by car, boat and rail, they made their way to the Gold Coast, stopping off at Flynn’s Beach Caravan Park where they ticked off a bucket list item of seeing kangaroos in the wild! Ready to tick off another on the list, they also visited the local koala hospital at Port Macquarie.
Byron Bay, Bats and Boutique Abodes
Driving in to Byron Bay, popular for its surf and laid-back vibes, they made their way to a charming boutique hotel by the coast. Ready for their next adventure, they grabbed their walking shoes and set off on foot to the infamous lighthouse which sits at the most Easterly point of Australia. As the day passed and twilight descended, the skies were brimming with noisy fruit bats the size of small cats. Luke was shocked at how many of them there were, not to mention how enormous they were too.
Surfers Paradise and Sunsets
After the delights of Byron, they travelled the coastal road to the Gold Coast and Surfers Paradise, a popular party spot famed for its white sandy beaches, surf and nightlife. With luck on their side, they got upgraded to a penthouse apartment on the 19th floor with views that stretched for miles. At Surfers Paradise, Luke loved watching the super cars that roared by, with the drivers eager to show off their wealth.
During their time there, Robert and Luke hired bikes to discover the vibrant coastal stretch, visited Porpoise Spit, made famous in the film Muriel’s Wedding, and saw the animals at the Currumbin Wildlife Park. Luke got the chance to hold a koala bear and the beaming smile on their souvenir photo conveyed just how special this experience was.
One evening they drove up to Tambarine Mountain to join other tourists eager to enjoy the glorious sunset over Surfers Paradise. Both Luke and Robert agreed, however, that the sunsets over Inverclyde were far more impressive. They also caught tram to Brisbane during the trip and saw a Tibetan day celebration where people were in national dress. On the more adventurous days, they got on a jet boat where they got soaked from head to toe, and also visited Dream World – a popular theme park and attraction. It’s fair to say that Robert wasn’t a huge fan of the ‘Giant Drop’, Australia’s Tallest freefall ride that drops you from 119 feet to ground level at lightening speed.
Time to Go Home
After a quick visit to Robert’s uncle in the Gold Coast, who shared stories of World War Two to an inquisitive young Luke, the bags were packed and it was time to head home. With a layover in Dubai en route, Robert and Luke got to explore the Dubai mall with its enormous aquarium and the Burj Khalifa which towered above the city. Luke was excited to be back on the Emirates plane again and had missed the comforts of home.
As they touched down on UK soil, the experience may have been over but the memories they made would last a lifetime. The trip was every bit as special for Robert as it was for young Luke. He recounted:
“I always wanted to foster and provide the kids with some of the amazing travel experiences I had enjoyed myself. If there’s a place the children have always wanted to go, I can make that happen.”
Robert has been a foster carer with Kibble for over twenty years, looking after children on a long-term basis or on short breaks to support other carers and young people in our service. In fact, Robert is also a ‘foster grandparent’, to children he used to foster who have grown up and started a family.
“I foster because I know I can make life better for the children and help them make memories. In many ways, you are their voice and able to create change in their lives.”
This trip is one of adventure, but it also tells a story of the impact foster carers can make on the lives of children and young people who need someone to love, support and guide them to discover the best in life. A big world awaits, and Luke is desperate to go out and explore it… next stop LA!
*Names changed to protect privacy.
