Emergency foster carer and teacher named ACT Mother of the Year

Mrs McNamara has been blessed with three children, one biological and two adopted through foster care after a long battle with IVF and losing her baby Jacob, who was stillborn.

Children are not the only thing Mrs McNamara has been blessed with. On Monday ACT Minister for Women Yvette Berry named her the ACT Barnardos Mother of the Year 2015.

The national accolades are the largest and most recognised awards celebrating the important role mums play in shaping Australia's future. "It is a great occasion to acknowledge the enormous contribution mothers make in ensuring our kids are able to grow up in secure, loving and stable homes," Ms Berry said.

Mrs McNamara hopes her achievement will inspire other parents to foster. "I feel really humbled and grateful and I am excited for the opportunity to showcase foster mums and show that anyone can have a go" she said.

Mrs McNamara was nominated by colleague Leilah Franklin-Ayton who believed her friend should be recognised for the support she provides to the emergency respite care of foster babies and her work with local children of asylum seekers, volunteering in after school programs. But there were also personal reasons behind the nomination. "Chauntell opened her own home to me and my daughter when I was a new mum with no family in town, and gave us a home and unconditional support as we slowly found our feet," she said.

Not only does Mrs McNamara care for her own children she is also a teacher at John Paul College. Even though she is surrounded by children every day, Mrs McNamara still has a strong desire to care for children of her own, having been inspired by her own parents. "My parents were foster carers and my husband and I were having troubles having a baby so we decided to get involved in foster caring."

The wellbeing of the children she fosters is the most important thing to Mrs McNamara. "The children have all different walks in life. While I have never seen two of the same cases, one of the biggest challenges at the moment is drugs – in particular ice" she explained.

Her son Brodie was fostered at five years old and daughter Annabella when she was a year old.

Although the children were welcomed into the family at different ages Mrs McNamara said the kids had bonded like any other family. "They have great times, and not so great times. The eldest is a super big brother and that's why it works so well."

Mrs McNamara will now be in the running for the national mother of the year award which will be announced on Mother's Day, May 10, in Sydney.