Mirabel Research and Resource Publications

Mirabel has produced a number of research and resource publications for kinship carers and individuals wanting to learn more about Mirabel's work.

Max & Tyra  

And that's when it all started. Or, should I say, that's when it all ended. At that moment it felt like our normal family fell apart…'

Mirabel's latest book, Max & Tyra describes the challenges of children living in kinship care from a child's perspective. Max & Tyra tells the story of two children coming to terms with the loss of their mother due to illicit drug use and their experiences living with their Nan.

This book has been written to help vulnerable children to make sense of their world and normalise their circumstances. It is hoped that it will help to initiate dialogue between kinship carers and their children and provide a safe place from which to explore the stigma often associated with kinship care and parental drug use.

To order your free copy (postage and handling costs may apply) of Max & Tyra, email your name and address to Mirabel or contact us on 03 9527 9422

'When the children arrive...' A Resource Book for Kinship Carers

'When the children arrive...' was written specifically to assist kinship carers address and identify some of the issues and concerns that may arise in this situation. It recognises the impact of taking on the care of these children and the ramifications of a loved one’s substance abuse. Over the years Mirabel has encountered many families from a range of heartbreaking experiences. Their stories of hardship and grief have many commonalities and it is these shared experiences and questions that are touched on in the book. This information, combined with a list of relevant agencies and services located throughout Australia, aims to offer practical advice and emotional reassurance to these families.

To order your free copy (postage and handling costs may apply) of 'When the children arrive...', email your name and address to Mirabel or contact us on 03 9527 9422.

Parental Drug Use - A Recent Phenomenon

The development of kinship families (families where children are being raised by extended family members or family friends) due to the death or abandonment of parents involved in illicit drug use has created a marginalised group of families that seem to have been overlooked by government policy and program development within Australia and possibly throughout the world. This paper examines many of the issues related to kinship care with reference to studies that have taken place internationally. Kinship care is explored in the context of child welfare and child protection and the grief experiences of both children and their kinship carers is discussed. A review is provided of the parenting, financial and legal matters that affect kinship families. Future directions for supporting kinship families are also discussed in some detail.

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Parental Drug Use - The Bigger Picture

This paper provides an overview of the existing research available on the effects of parental illicit drug use on children, with particular regard to the physical, cognitive and psychosocial development of children. Specific consideration is given to the role of child protection services in Australia and the trend to reunify and preserve families. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is discussed in relation to parental drug use, as are the commonalities found with other marginalised groups in the community, specifically parents experiencing mental health issues or intellectual disability.

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The Effects of Parental Drug Use - Children in Kinship Care

The development of kinship families (families where children are being raised by extended family members or family friends) due to the death or abandonment of parents involved in illicit drug use has created a marginalised group of families that seem to have been overlooked by government policy and program development within Australia and possibly throughout the world. This paper examines many of the issues related to kinship care with reference to studies that have taken place internationally. Kinship care is explored in the context of child welfare and child protection and the grief experiences of both children and their kinship carers is discussed. A review is provided of the parenting, financial and legal matters that affect kinship families. Future directions for supporting kinship families are also discussed in some detail.

View  The Effects of Parental Drug Use - Children in Kinship Care