August 2022: Foster and relative/kinship carers - Insights and best practice to improve well-being and meet service and support needs

Webinar

Missed the live webinar? A captioned recording is available to view now.

Details

The psychological well-being and resilience of carers has implications for the well-being and outcomes of children and young people in their care. Chaired by FACSIAR Executive Director Jessica Stewart, this FACSIAR Lunch and Learn webinar provided insights into carers of children in out-of-home care, how to best support them and how to create positive caring experiences.

Presentation slide decks

Carers:

Exploring the impact of child characteristics, resources, perceptions and life stressors on caregiving and well-being
Associate Professor Rebecca Mitchell, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University
Download Slides (PDF, 1.2 MB)

Relative/kinship and foster care

A comparison of carer and child characteristics - findings from the Pathways of Care Longitudinal Study 
Professor Ilan Katz, Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales
Download Slides (PDF, 672.8 KB)

Additional materials

Department of Communities and Justice

• Pathways of Care Longitudinal Studies (POCLS)
  • More information about POCLS
  • Research reports and Evidence to Action Notes from POCLS published by FACSIAR
• Caring for Kids: a guide for foster, relative and kinship carers.
• Leading the way - Preparing young people for leaving care (PDF, 5.4 MB): a guide for foster, relative and kinship carers to help young people for leaving care.

My Forever Family

• Resources, practical guidance and support for carers caring for children and young people in out-of-home care.

AbSec

• Aboriginal Carer Support Service: provides help for carers of Aboriginal children and young people in NSW. The free telephone advice and advocacy service for carers of Aboriginal children also supports our member agencies with foster care recruitment activities, including events and promotion.

Service NSW

• Creative Kids: carers, parents and guardians can claim a $100 voucher per year per child to put towards the cost of creative and cultural activities for school-aged kids (4.5 to 18 years old).
• Active Kids: carers, parents and guardians can claim 2 x $100 vouchers for school-enrolled children to use towards sport and active recreation costs each year.

Raising Children

• Online advice for carers, parents and guardians: free, reliable, up-to-date and independent videos, articles and apps backed by Australian experts. An excellent resource for raising children of all ages, including those with a disability.

Fostering Lifelong Connections project

• Trauma informed family time: Tip sheets to support carers, caseworkers and parents to gain trauma awareness and improve trauma responses for children and young people

Questions or comments?

Contact: ResearchPartnerships@facs.nsw.gov.au