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/resources-to-help-children-with-crisis/
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 - One of a Kind
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
ADF offers information about alcohol and other drugs and the prevention of related harms.
Support & information - Phone 1300 368 186
Secretariat of National Aboriginal & Islander Child Care – Supporting Carers
Information & referrals for kinship carers
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.
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.
New South Wales
Drug Information @ your library
Provides up to date information about alcohol and drugs through local public libraries in New South Wales.
Absec - NSW Child, Family and Community Peak Aboriginal Corporation
Peak body providing child protection and out-of-home care policy advice on issues affecting Aboriginal children, young people, families and carers.
Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ)
Child Protection Helpline Ph: 132 111
Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ)
Foster, Relative and Kinship Care
Grandchildren and Kinship Visitation & Care In Family Law
Provides advice and support to foster, kinship and relative carers across New South Wales. Phone: 1300 782 975
NSW Government- Caring for Kids
A guide for foster, relative and kinship carers
Australian Capital Territory
Resource for Carers
Support and education to grandparents that are primary carers
ACT Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Community Services
Child Concern reports Phone 1300 556 729
Queensland
Dept of Communities, Child Safety & Disabilities Carer information
Foster & Kinship Care Queensland
Phone 07 3256 6166
Queensland Aboriginal Torres Strait Island Child Protection Peak
07 3102 4119
Department of Child Safety, Communities & Disabilities
Phone 1800 177 135 or (07) 3235 9999
South Australia
Phone (08) 8124 4185
Maintaining Aboriginal Cultural Identity
Government of SA - Rights of carers
Your rights as a relative, kinship or foster carer
Phone 131 478
Tasmania
Dept of Health & Human Services
Phone 1300 135 513
Free Call 1800 132 260
Department of Communities Tasmania - Children, Youth & Families
Ph: 1300 737 639
Western Australia
Information to help grandparents care for their grandchildren
Caring for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care
Parent & Families Drug Support Line
Metro (08) 9442 5050, Country 1800 653 203. Both numbers are 24hrs, 7 days a week
24hr Alcohol and Drug Support Lines
Crisis line phone (08) 9223 1111
Country free call phone 1800 199 008
Northern Territory
Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities
Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities
Child Protection Intake Phone 1800 700 250