It's hoped that the example of Burundi-born Trinite Uwimana will encourage other African refugees in Perth to become foster parents.
Burundian refugee Trinite Uwimana is a generous woman.
Despite being driven from her home by war, and suffering domestic violence before coming a single mother to five children, there is still room in her heart for others.
Trinite Uwimana has become a foster carer in Western Australia.
And it's hoped she will act as a bridge to an African refugee community that doesn't fully trust the intentions of the State Government.
Getting children to eat their breakfast can be a struggle at the best of times.
Trinite Uwimana has five: two girls, a 16 and a five-year-old, and three boys aged 14, 11 and nine.
Originally from Burundi in Africa, the children's conversation around the breakfast table is very Australian.
But despite little Jessica's grumbles, breakfast with eggs, capsicum, toast, cereal and fruit - and the very important glasses of milk - is finished in less than ten minutes.
Then the military operation goes into clean up mode and the children all pitch in to clear the table, and wash and put away the dishes.
Six people: fed and the house cleaned in less than 15 minutes.
It seems Trinite Uwimana and her brood could easily accommodate another.
And that's what the 41-year-old Burundian refugee is doing.
She's become a foster carer - offering shelter and support to the children of the country that did the same for hers.
"Where I come from, I was a teacher in primary school and also in the refugee camp, I was also a teacher and a coordinator of the school, but you know I have this feeling of children, young people and always I would stand up for children whenever I can all my life. And when I get in Western Australia, I found children in care and that's why I want to join in and work with Child Protection as a foster carer just to help children in need."
After breakfast, it's time to get in the car and go to school.
The older ones trying to get things moving along.
Trinite Uwimana says being a foster carer or even managing five children by herself wouldn't be possible without the support of her children who she calls friends.
"If my kids cannot help, I cannot do it. Because we are family if in a family they say 'no mum, we don't want stranger', people to come in, it can be so hard because if a child come, they don't want it, they cannot even play with him, they cannot support, they cannot help me."
A few weeks ago, Trinite Uwimana's children were helping with a four-month-old baby called Tate who stayed with them for a month.
It meant she put her childcare studies to one side to look after the baby who turned five-months in her care.
"The time I saw the baby, I was feel angry in myself to see a baby, an innocent child, and you know I'm Christian and when I saw a baby, a little baby, they looking someone who can look after them, straight away I see the picture of God because they are so little, they are innocent, they don't know nothing, they need someone to lift up to feed them, everything. You know I was feel so angry and the time I get him inside, I feel myself that I want to cry because this baby … yeah."
It's clear Trinite Uwimana has great compassion for others.
It's partly why she was put forward by the Department of Child Protection's Caroline Speirs.
The two met at a regular African community workshop about two years ago.
"And she often brings her children along on a Saturday, and she's always laughing and joking, she's a real earthy type. I know I take my children. They all play together. It's just a really nice fit."
Caroline Speirs was struck by Trinite Uwimana's commitment to the African community and her willingness to help.
"I think at one of the workshops that we had, we were talking about a family where there was a lot of breakdown and Trinite was the first to put her hand up and say 'Look if there's any trouble, bring the children to me'. In the community, if there's any problems, she's the first person that they would turn to and know that she often goes sits in a park in Balga and just chats to some of the parents and offers them support and advice so she's really well known in that community as a support person."
Ms Speirs is also hoping that Trinite Uwimana will help to bridge the gap between the department and the African community in Perth.
She believes there's a lot of misunderstanding within the community about what the department does and can do.
Parents say they are scared to discipline their children because they tell them they'll report them to the department and they'll be taken away.
Or the parents expect the department to step in and bring wayward teenagers, who are enjoying newfound freedoms never experienced in a refugee camp, back under control.
Ms Speirs says the community workshops play an important role as well as having people within the community who can explain the real role of the department.
"I think some of the refugee communities as they come to Australia are a bit concerned about the role of a department like child protection and we would like to break down barriers on both sides. That's why we get involved in relationship building, activities, community events, dances, anything at all where we can get involved and really build those relationships. So it's a two-way process and somebody like Trinite is a conduit in that whole situation."
As for Trinite Uwimana, she's ready to take the next child - though she still misses the baby she cared for.
"If you don't get close, you can't do it. You have to feel as your child. You have to be very attached. It cannot happen if you are a mother like me. You can't. You have to be attached."
