Meet our Staff Team
Mary Blake
Founder & Executive Officer
Mary is the founder and Executive Officer of Fostering Hope. Mary came to Fostering Hope after working in the community research and policy after studying community development and international law. She combines this experience with the lived experience of being a foster and respite carer. Mary and her boys attend C3 Church in South Hobart. The rest of Mary’s time is spent being a mum to five active boys and involved in their communities.
Tracey Avery
Northern Coordinator
In her role Tracey comes alongside carers supporting them, building connections in the community while raising awareness of their needs. Tracey has worked & volunteered in the community sector for over 30 years with qualifications in Childcare, Disability and Community service. Tracey attends Launceston City Baptist Church. She loves spending her time with loved ones and being creative.
Ellie Firth
Mentoring Coordinator
Ellie is our Mentoring Coordinator, overseeing our Mentoring Program; this includes training all our volunteer mentors and working with our mentoring team to screen, match and provide ongoing support for mentors for kids growing up in Out of Home Care. She is a professional mentor and mentor trainer, running a similar program for kids in a local public primary school near her church, she also teaches the Graduate Certificate of Christian Mentoring at Sydney Missionary and Bible College (SMBC). Ellie attends Glenorchy Anglican Church. Outside of her mentoring roles Ellie loves to read and spending time with good friends.
Anthea Maynard
Northern Mentoring Officer
Anthea is our Northern Mentor Officer, her role is to facilitate, with the support of the Mentoring Coordinator, Fostering Hope's Mentoring Program in the north of the state, to provide carers with an extra level of support as they care for kids in care. This includes the recruitment, matching, and ongoing support for mentors and mentees. Anthea has a diverse background in health and intergenerational faith formation. Along with her Fostering Hope work she works part time as the Team Leader of Launceston City Baptist and as the Program Officer for Food Plants International. She lives in a rural village with her husband and two adult daughters and loves to walk alongside people and support them to live out their faith in transformative, practical ways.
