Resources

The Mirabel Foundation works specifically to assist children being raised by grandparents and other family members due to parental illicit drug use. Mirabel supports kinship carers regardless of their legal or statutory status.

Talking to children about coronavirus

A great resource for carers on tips for talking with children about the coronavirus. This has been prepared from our friends at raising children network. Download the fact sheet here.

Children experience a lot of fear, worry, and anxiety as a result of the Coronavirus crisis. The Australian Childhood Foundation have a number of resources that can help parents and carers manage some of the stress and help explain things in a way that children can understand.

Click to read Gordan the Uncertainty Giant - a children's book to help deal with the uncertainty of daily life in a pandemic.

To view more great resources like Gordan the Uncertainty Giant, head to the ACF website

https://www.childhood.org.au/covid-19/

Staying at Home Toolkit for Out of Home Carers

Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare has shared a toolkit with suggestions, hints and resources for Victorian households providing Out of Home Care during COVID-19. Download the toolkit here.

Supporting Individuals with Autism through Uncertain Times

This booklet is by The UNC Frank Porter Graham Children Development Institute. The booklet offers 7 support strategies for caregivers of children on the spectrum about COVID-19 and how to navigate through school closures, abrupt changes in routine, loss of connections with teachers and friends and the fear about contracting the virus. Download booklet here.

One of a Kind

One of a Kind is a children's book about Darcy and Oliver discovering their way by Linda Espie and Gwyneth Jones. The book aims to explain parental mental illness and support children living in foster or kinship care to better understand their situation. You can view it on Alfred Health www.alfred.org.au/oneofakind

Stories of Grandparent Carers

100 Families WA is a first-of-its-kind research project following engagement with 400 families living in disadvantage, offers key insights on what helps, what hinders and what could be done differently to meaningfully address this issue. Please click here to view digital resource on grandparent carers.

Polly & Me

Ian Darling's short film 'Polly and Me' highlights the traumatic circumstances of many Mirabel children and covers some of the most crucial issues threatening those vulnerable and disadvantaged in our society. An International Conference on Innovation in Therapeutic Approaches with Children, Young People and Families. For further information please contact Mirabel.

Mirabel's Policies & Procedures

The Mirabel Foundation is committed to safeguarding children and young people in its care. As part of this commitment, we have policies and procedures for our organisation, which are approved and endorsed by our Board of Management. Please click here to read our policies and procedures.

National Services

Alcohol and Drug Foundation

ADF offers information about alcohol and other drugs and the prevention of related harms.

Family Drug Support

Support & information - Phone 1300 368 186

S.N.A.I.C.C.

Secretariat of National Aboriginal & Islander Child Care – Supporting Carers

Raising Children Network

Information & referrals for kinship carers

Create Foundation

Represents the voices of children and young people who have experienced out-of-home care

Centrelink Grandparent Advisers

Provides information about payments and support services for non-parent carers

Centre for Culture, Ethnicity & Health

Multilingual Centrelink resources available via the Health Translations website. Provides information on government payments and services for families and carers.

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

Provides support for people with disability, their families and carers in Australia

Melbourne University - Young kinship carers

Required for nationwide university research study

ACWA - Association of Children's Welfare Agencies

The Association of Children's Welfare Agencies (ACWA) is a non-government peak body representing the voice of community organisations working with vulnerable children, young people and their families.

Berry street - Childhood Institute

Berry Street Childhood Institute strives to enhance outcomes for children and young people who have experienced trauma and disadvantage. Berry Street Childhood Institute presents training and events designed to enhance the capacity of carers and practitioners working with vulnerable children. Click here to see upcoming training and development that is available.

Australian Childhood Foundation

The Australian Childhood Foundation advocate on behalf of children who have suffered abuse and neglect.

Children do not escape family violence unaffected. They are traumatised by the experience. It terrifies them. It destabilises the foundations of their development. It undermines the strengths of their relationships. It can overwhelm them.

The Australian Childhood Foundation have written a practice framework for understanding and responding to those affected by family violence. It demonstrates how similar principles can be implemented at the child, family and community level. You can download their Safe & Secure booklet here.

State and Territory Services

Victoria

Self Help Addiction Resource Centre

Self Help Addiction Resource Centre (SHARC) provides a specialist service to support family members and friends who are concerned about a loved one’s alcohol and other drug use. - Phone 1300 660 068

Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency

Provides programs and services to reinforce Aboriginal culture and encourage best parenting practices, and advise government in relation to child abuse and neglect in the Aboriginal community.

Kinship Carer Victoria

KCV is the peak body for kinship carers in Victoria and aims to have kinship carers supported in their role according to their needs and the needs of the children for whom they care. - Phone (03) 9372 2422

Click here to see KCV's Manual for Kinship Carers

Permanent Care & Adoptive Families

PCA Families is an early intervention service that provides support to families formed through kinship care, permanent care and adoption. - Phone (03) 9020 1833

DHHS Child Protection Crisis Line

Phone 13 12 78

Carer KaFÉ - Kinship and Foster Care Education

A new program designed to improve and expand kinship and foster carer training Victoria-wide.
Take a look at Carer KaFÉ's latest news and events here.

Click here for the latest Carer KaFÉ News.

This newsletter is a great resource that is produced quarterly by the Foster Care Association of Victoria to provide information and support to Victoria's kinship and foster carers.

Carer KaFÉ provides learning and development opportunities for carers throughout Victoria.

Click here to see the latest online training courses for kinship carers.