Kinship carer learning opportunities

Choosing to support your family by becoming a kinship carer ensures family member/s have the opportunity to be cared for and supported in an environment surrounded by family and, in most cases, by someone the child or young person is familiar with.

Children and young people who suffer harm or who may be a risk of suffering harm often require additional support to help them understand and cope with the trauma that has happened to them.

Child Safety encourages kinship carers to access resources that will help them to understand and support a family member/s who has suffered harm. While general foster carers are required to complete specific training to help them develop the skills and abilities to support children and young people who have entered into the child protection system, kinship carers are not required to complete this training. However, participating in the training can help to provide you with some insight into the impact of trauma on children and young people’s emotions and behaviours, and how best to respond and support children and young people in these circumstances.

Should you wish to access specific training relative to your family’s required supports, please contact your Foster and Kinship Carer agency for more information.

There are a variety of support options to assist you with ensuring the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in your care remain connected to their family, community and culture. This includes remaining connected to the child or young person’s immediate family, extended family and language/cultural group members, as well as local language/tribal group organisations specific to the child or young person’s cultural needs. Families also have the option of identifying an independent person to help facilitate the child and family’s meaningful participation in decision making, an independent person is someone who:

• they are comfortable with
• is significant to their child
• knows their community or language group.

In addition, there are also a number of community Justice Elder Groups and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations that provide supports that may help families develop an appropriate cultural plan for the child or young person. Find more information about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island member groups.