DCP and the Centre for Excellence in Therapeutic Care, a division of the Australian Childhood Foundation (ACF), have come together to provide family-based carers in South Australia with three separate options to learn about trauma responsive care, and strategies for responding to children and young people in care:

• Caring for Children and Young People with Trauma (online) for foster carers
• Caring for Children and Young People with Trauma (online) for kinship carers, and
• Healing Through Care: A Yarning Resource (face-to-face) for kinship carers of Aboriginal children and young people.

Caring for Children and Young People with Trauma

Content

This online training includes a mix of self-paced modules and webinars, giving carers an opportunity to reflect on the content, ask questions and embed the learning within their caring roles.

There are five modules to the online training tailored specifically for foster carers and kinship carers. The introduction and welcome module take approximately 15-25 minutes to complete, and the core modules takes approximately 45-90 minutes to complete, depending on the carer’s experience level, prior learning and the time taken to complete responses to reflection activities and further reading options.

• Module 1. Setting the foundations – an introduction to all of the learning
• Module 2. Brain development
• Module 3. Understanding trauma
• Module 4. Trauma informed approaches
• Module 5. Collaboration and self-care

In total the online training program will take up to 7 hours to complete. Where possible, it is recommended you complete each module in one sitting. You can, however, leave at any point and pick up where you have left off.

The online training will allow you to:

• Develop your knowledge and skills to provide trauma responsive care to children and young people.
• Learn strategies that will help you respond to children’s needs and behaviour.
• Utilise the support from your DCP and/or agency support worker.
• Learn from real-life case studies.
• Hear from experts in the field of trauma.
• Receive a certificate of completion.

For more information regarding the content covered in Caring for Children and Young People with Trauma training, visit the course content overview, tailored specifically for foster carers or kinship carers.

Registration

You can register for the training on the CETC website.

Once registered with the ACF, you will receive a username and log in details, and you will be able to explore the content at your own pace and at a time that suits you.

What will I learn from this training?

You will explore how the brain can be affected by children’s early experiences of abuse and neglect and how this may impact on their ability to form relationships and manage their own emotional responses.

There will be take-home tips and advice on how best to respond to children’s display of big emotions and learn new ways of responding to challenging behaviour.

Develop skills in a therapeutic caregiving model by building homes that calm and soothe.

Carers will receive advice on tackling some common daily struggles such as, managing change and establishing routines and boundaries.

This training aims to provide support to carers in how to practice self-care, in addition to providing trauma-responsive care to assist with children and young people’s recovery and healing.

The Frequently Asked Questions may assist you with any further questions you have about the training.

Need more information? Please speak with your DCP and/or agency support worker.

Healing Through Care: A Yarning Resource

Content

The Yarning Resource provides culturally relevant images, design, and tone of voice, and presents the western theoretical concepts along with cultural perspectives of healing trauma. Four local kinship carers were interviewed and filmed to create short videos which invite carers to reflect on how we can assist children’s healing through re-connection to community, culture, and country.

Your DCP and/or agency support worker will walk alongside you as you explore the 5 parts of the resource:

• Part 1. Strong Roots
• Part 2. The Growing Brain
• Part 3. Understanding Trauma
• Part 4. Trauma-aware and Healing-informed
• Part 5. Togetherness and Staying Strong.

When sharing the resource with you, your DCP and/or agency support worker will:

• Be mindful of the impact of intergenerational trauma upon individuals, families, and communities
• Acknowledge your wisdom and experience in growing kids up strong
• Provide ongoing support via phone and/or home visits
• Allow time and space for yarning and deep listening and delivered at a pace that you suits you
• Ensure that you have a say in where the learning is shared/delivered (in your home or other location)
• Support you to transfer the learning into your own life in a meaningful way
• Provide you with ways that you can find more information and support in topic areas that you may want to know more about.

Registration

Registration is not required. If you are interested in engaging with this learning, speak with your DCP and/or agency support worker.

What will I get out of doing this learning?

By engaging with the stories of other kinship carers in the community, exploring concepts of trauma and yarning about your own unique experience as a kinship carer, you will:

• Understand the importance of re-connecting Aboriginal children and young people to family, community, culture, and country
• Interpret how cultural safety and healthy relationships positively impact a child’s development and behaviour now and, in their future
• Analyse how different types of trauma can affect a child’s mind, body, and spirit and how we can help them heal
• Learn what trauma-informed and healing-informed care is and why the needs of Aboriginal children and young people who have experienced trauma might be different from others
• Explore the importance of teamwork and cultural planning in caring for Aboriginal children and young people
• Recognise the impact of trauma on carers and the need to practice self-care to stay strong as a kinship carer.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will the learning take?

The length of time it will take to complete the learning is flexible and can be shared with you over multiple home visits or delivered in small yarning circles by your supporting agency in a 3–4-hour session. This will allow you to access the learning in a way that best suits your personal learning and communication style.

I am a non-Aboriginal kinship carer, caring for Aboriginal children and young people. Is this learning right for me?

Yes, it is recommended for any kinship carer who is/or will be providing care for Aboriginal children or young people.

I have completed the Caring for Children and Young People (online) training. Should I complete Healing Through CareYarning Resource as well?

This is optional. Both the Caring for Children and Young People (online) training and the Yarning Resource explore the concepts of trauma-informed care and support kinship carers to respond to the needs of children and young people. The Yarning Resource provides a cultural lens upon the western perspectives of trauma healing, which is essential to proving cultural safety and cultural healing for Aboriginal children and young people.

Are there assessments or knowledge checks?

No, but there are some identified learning outcomes and main messages that we hope you will take away with you. Your DCP and/or agency support worker will assist you to interpret the new learning so that it relevant and meaningful for you and your family and provide you with any additional support that you need to meet the intended learning outcomes.

Once I have completed the learning, will I get a certificate?

Yes. Your support agency can recognise your participation with a certificate, at your request.

I am a foster carer. Can I complete this learning or is it just for kinship carers?

The Yarning Resource has specific messaging for kinship carers, however, the tools are also relevant for foster carers who may share some similar joys and challenges in caring for Aboriginal children and young people and can be adapted for use. Speak to your agency support worker for more information.

Am I able to complete this learning online?

No. The Yarning Resource has been specifically designed for face-to-face delivery, either one-on-one or in a small group.

I would like to provide feedback on the Yarning Resource. How can I do that?

Thank you, feedback is always welcomed. You can provide feedback by completing the feedback form that can be provided by your support agency . Alternatively, you can provide direct feedback to:

Department for Child Protection
Strategy, Partnerships and Reform Directorate
Email: dcpcarerparnterships@sa.gov.au

Australian Childhood Foundation
Phone: 1300 381 581
Email: support@childhood.org.au