Sheridan and Adrian Viti have been involved in a student exchange program for 12years and hosted 10 international students. Three years ago they became therapeutic foster carers and have had 20 children stay with them.

There are a variety of reasons children come into foster care, including trauma at home, a sick parent, single parents or parents just needing a hand.

"It's always challenging, but the rewards outweigh that ... the biggest thing for our family is to be flexible. Whatever we do as a family those kids join in," Mrs Viti said.

They are a formidable team and Mrs Viti said that was essential as foster carers.

"You both have to want to do it. We bounce ideas off each other and decisions are made together."

The couple had 16 months of training before being approved as foster carers.

"We learnt everything from dealing with different behaviours to techniques in parenting," she said.

"Therapeutic care is really involved in the way you go about parenting these children. It's centred more around trauma. You need to be trained to be able to deal with these children's needs."

Being a foster carer is almost like a full-time job. Mrs Viti can receive a call at any time about a child who needs a place to stay.

"I could get a phone call now and have a child tonight, or be asked if I could take them in an hour, or they might give three weeks' notice.

"A lot of people think you're either giving up a lot or it's going to be really hard work. It's not as hard as you think. My washing pile always resembles a mountain, but that's OK."

The Vitis' children, Logan, 7, Jasmine, 10, and Maddi, 13, all welcome additional playmates.

"Our kids really enjoy having kids through. The long-term children become part of the family," Mrs Viti said.

"Part of why we do this is we want our kids to know how important it is to help others. We want them to know about helping people without rewards.

"Our kids are made aware that other kids aren't as lucky as them. It's very humbling for them."