Training Opportunities for Carers

OzChild’s Thriving Families program is a new initiative aimed at providing a suite of practical, emotional, community and training supports for OzChild's kinship and foster carers to enhance, improve and support your caring journey.

It is our hope, that providing our carers with learning opportunities, Thriving Families will remove hurdles and facilitate better support, improving the day-to-day carer experience, enabling every member of the carer household to thrive.

Carer training opportunities are for OzChild carers only and are aimed at delivering a wide range of topics to include, dealing with trauma, managing challenging behaviours, building resilience and providing tools and strategies, to name just a few.

Training topics, dates and details will be updated as new opportunities are available.

The online training and learning opportunities listed below are available for OzChild carers. If you are a foster or kinship carer with OzChild you will receive information about your online learning opportunities. If you are not an OzChild carer and would like to find out more please reach out to our team via email dandenongadmin@ozchild.org.au


Tuning into Kids is coming to our Dandenong office

Tuning into Kids teaches parenting skills in emotion coaching, which is to recognise, understand and respond to children’s emotions in an accepting and supportive way. This approach helps the child to understand and manage their emotions. This is an important skill for children who have experienced trauma.

FREE workshops will be facilitated by Katrina Hedges (Team Leader, Foster Care) who is a Tuning in to Kids® facilitator with Kayla Want (Case Manager).

Both are passionate about helping children become more resilient and have better emotional regulation skills.

Fingers crossed the training will be face to face. We also have the flexibility to run the training on OzLearning Village.

What you need to know

Dates:
6 x 2.5hrs sessions – Wednesday 1st September – 20th October*
(No sessions on 22 and 29 September due to school holidays).

Time:
10.30am – 1pm (lunch will be provided).

Application/Registration:
Please send an email with your name, contact number and email to khedges@ozchild.org.au

This program is suitable for all foster carers with a child approximately 3-12 years. Can be flexible on the age range due to the developmentally age of the child in your care.

Feedback from our carers who have completed the training

“I have recommended Tuning into Kids to everyone raising kids who is looking for assistance or a resource that will give them insight/inspiration/support”

– OzChild carer 1

“I often don’t feel I have time to listen and understand what is going on for *Peter, but through this I know I need to make time as it all helps in the long run. Our connection has strengthened”

– OzChild carer 2

“I will definitely be promoting the training with other foster carers”

– OzChild carer 3

“Katrina and Kayla are amazing! They are both very knowledgeable and passionate about strengthen the carers capacity”

– OzChild carer 4

Australian Childhood Foundation (ACF)

About the program
Two-hour online workshops for foster and kinship carers Workshops to provide an opportunity for psychoeducation, reflection and discussion.

Workshops proposed:

  • Understanding the Impact of Family Violence on Children
  • Understanding trauma and the impact on the developing brain
  • Tools for understanding and supporting children (PACE, Iceberg Model, Window of Tolerance, Shield of Shame)
  • Carer reflections (reflecting on experience of being parented and role as carer, drawing upon BUGK principles)

When
Likely March, April 2021

OzChild Learning Village (Training Platform)

You should now have access to training modules such as the Safeguarding Children training and Carer Code of Conduct.

More training opportunities are coming soon!

Safeguarding Children

Now available through the OzChild Learning Village

Code of Conduct

Now available through the OzChild Learning Village

If you do not have access to the OzChild Learning Village please contact Business Support Dandenong on dandenongadmin@ozchild.org.au or call 03 9212 3900

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Acknowledgement of Country


OzChild acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we live and work. We acknowledge their cultures are living ones, which relate to their ongoing connection to all things living and non-living on land, sea and sky.

We pay our respect to Elders past and present.

May the children of today lead us to a brighter tomorrow.

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