Webinars

Welcome to the links training and support webinar.

Family time, Maintaining connections.

I'd like to acknowledge the original custodians, the Gandangara people on whose lands I'm recording this webinar.

I'd like to pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging and welcome all Aboriginal people viewing.

In this webinar, you'll learn about the benefits of family time for kids in at home care.

I'll introduce strategies to make family time successful and to reduce associated worries and behaviours.

Family time is important for kids in out of home care.

The purpose is to keep kids connected to family and community through visits with parents, siblings, extended family and community members.

Family time often occurs face to face, but can also occur via phone and video calls, text messages, letters, emails and social media apps such as Facebook.

Family time is not just a privilege, but a fundamental right for kids in out of home care.

It plays a crucial role in their emotional and psychological development.

A child's care plan indicates the minimum number of family visits that should occur, but the frequency and type of family time will depend on the needs of the child and the case plan goals of restoration, guardianship, adoption or long term care.

Most kids in out of home care have experienced significant trauma, which is often combined with anxiety, guilt, grief and loss.

In addition, separation from birth family may leave them feeling isolated, depressed, and without a strong identity.

Family time can help kids develop their sense of belonging and ease their distress.

Kids who have frequent contact with their families show better mental health outcomes, including fewer internalizing and externalizing behaviours.

Family visits help to reduce feelings of loss, separation, abandonment, and isolation.

For kids in out of home care.

Ongoing family visits also build a sense of connection and belonging.

Family visits are important in providing kids with a clearer understanding of their birth family circumstances, helping them understand why they're in care.

They also can help kids maintain connection with their birth family and can assist them build lifelong relationships.

Regular family time can help kids to heal from trauma while improving their mental health and behaviours.

Maintaining connections with family can also support positive leading care experiences and well-being into adulthood.

For kids in out of home care, family visits are vital to preserving connection to culture, cultural practices, language and traditions.

This is crucial for kids with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander heritage and those from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Family visits can be challenging, but they play a vital role in supporting the child's emotional and psychological needs during a difficult time.

While family time is vital for kids in out of home care, it often comes with unique challenges.

As mentioned, the majority of kids in out of home care have experienced trauma at the hands of their primary caregivers.

This can include domestic violence, physical abuse, neglect, and parental drug and alcohol misuse.

These experiences may lead to emotional and behavioural challenges related to family interactions.

Kids can have difficulty building trusting relationships due to the experiences of trauma, removal from family, and placement changes.

If they lack trusting relationships with adults, family time can feel particularly unsafe or stressful.

When kids do build a sense of safety and trust with carers, they can feel emotionally torn between their birth and foster families.

Resulting feelings of guilt or confusion can impact their desire to attend family time.

Family visits may not always occur as scheduled.

This is often caused by the birth family's inability to consistently attend visits.

Irregular visits can disrupt the continuity of relationships, making it harder for children to feel connected.

They may also feel disappointed or angry when visits are cancelled, especially at the last minute.

These challenges can result in kids refusing to attend family time, struggling to interact during family time, or experiencing behavioural difficulties before or after family time.

Understanding how to support kids through these challenges can help you create a safe environment for kids before, during, and after family time.

Successful family time requires careful planning and preparation.

The perspective of caseworkers, carers, kids, and parents should all be taken into consideration when setting up visits.

It's vital to work together.

Kids should be supported to discuss what they like about their family visits and what they'd like to change.

Also consider how they want to spend time with their family and what strategies would help them feel safe.

Kids feel safer when they know what to expect.

Try developing a visual family time schedule for kids that tells them when family time is happening, who it's with, and where it's occurring.

Family time also works better when parents are supported to plan activities.

Ongoing assistance to build positive parenting skills and connection with their kids can be really helpful.

It's important to help kids prepare for family time so it's more likely to be successful and beneficial.

Both caregivers and caseworkers should talk positively to kids about their family and family time.

This helps reassure the child about spending time with family members and prevents the feelings of divided loyalty they may experience.

Kids should also be well prepared before each visit.

You might do this by discussing who will attend, where the visit will occur, and how long it will last.

Also, let them know who will be taking them to and from visits.

Encourage kids to gather any item they'd like to share with their family, such as artworks, school certificates or new toys, and discuss any events or proud moments they've had had since the last visit.

This will help them think of memories and stories to share with their family.

Sometimes kids appear anxious or worried in the lead up to family time, or you'll notice their behaviours change.

If this happens, ask open questions about their thoughts and feelings.

Help them to name their emotions and problem solve difficulties together.

You should also share why you believe family time is important for them, which will help reduce feelings of divided loyalty.

After family time, caseworkers, carers, kids and parents should discuss what worked well and what needs to be different for next time.

Some kids may have difficulty managing their emotions or behaviours after family time.

This is normal and does not mean the visits are causing harm.

It's vital to help kids understand and manage their feelings about family time.

To do this, you should stay calm, tune into their emotions and help kids to name them.

The way kids transition back from family time is important.

Developing a post family time routine or activity can help.

Work with your kids to determine what they'd like to do after visits, focusing on connection and calming.

Think about activities like getting a milkshake and having a chat on the way home, going for a walk or cooking something together.

If your kids would prefer to be alone after family time, you should also allow for this.

Be sure to check on them regularly and invite them into family activities all one-on-one time.

If kids experience ongoing heightened emotions or behaviours relating to family time, it's important to seek therapeutic supports.

Some kids will find family time really difficult and may refuse to attend visits or engage in phone contact.

This can be challenging for carers, caseworkers and parents, but your support is vital.

Encourage kids to express their thoughts, feelings, and concerns about family time.

Listen actively and validate their emotions, showing empathy and understanding.

Listening closely will also help you know how to respond.

Let them know it's OK to have mixed emotions about family time and remind them that they can change their mind.

When kids refuse to attend family visits, it's important to help them problem solve and build safety.

You can also work with them to identify alternate forms of family time, such as phone calls or letters instead of face to face visits.

It's also vital you promote predictability routines and structure around family visits.

Ensuring the periods before, during and after visits are predictable can offer kids a needed sense of safety.

Thank you for viewing this webinar on Family Time.

Remember, family time is important to the well-being of kids in out of home care.

It's more likely to be successful when carers, caseworkers and parents work together to plan positive, meaningful visits.

Thank you.

Welcome to the LINKS Training and Support Keeping kids safe online webinar.

I'd like to acknowledge the original custodians, the Gandangara people on whose land I'm recording this webinar.

I'd like to pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging and welcome all Aboriginal people viewing.

In this webinar, we'll talk about online risks for kids in out of home care and strategies you can use to lessen these risks in your home.

Constant advancements in technology allow kids to access the Internet in more ways and at younger ages this ease of access increases their exposure to potential harms.

In this webinar, we'll discuss the risks for kids in out of home care and introduce some E safety strategies to reduce their exposure to harm.

We want to emphasise that while risks are present.

Carers can play a really important role in keeping kids safe.

Let's start by looking at some of the dangers kids face online.

Kids in out of home care can experience a range of risks relating to the online world.

When kids spend time on social media, gaming platforms, and in chat rooms, they can be exposed to content and people who may cause them harm.

The more frequently kids are online, the more likely they are to be exposed.

This exposure can be particularly harmful to kids in out of home care who've experienced violence, abuse, and neglect.

One of the key risks is viewing inappropriate content, either deliberately or accidentally.

This includes violent or sexually graphic material and information or content that is not age appropriate.

The younger kids are when they're exposed.

The most significant harm can be.

Another potential risk is exposure to people who cause harm.

This can include being sent sexually explicit material, being asked to send nude images or information about their bodies, having conversations about sex and being persuaded to meet up in person.

Seeing harmful content and spending excessive time online can affect kids mental health, resulting in anxiety, depression and isolation from others.

Social media representations of body image and relationships can also increase feelings of inadequacy or isolation for kids.

Inadequate care.

Cyber bullying may also occur through social media messaging apps and online games, resulting in emotional distress.

Cyber bullying can follow kids into all environments where they access technology, removing a crucial sense of safety for kids in out of home care.

These children may be more susceptible to cyber bullying due to difficulties with relationships, managing their emotional states, and a perceived lack of security.

Immaturity and undeveloped critical thinking skills place kids at greater risk of sharing personal information online.

This can make them more vulnerable to scams, identity theft, and people who need to cause them harm.

Kids may also share nude images or personal information without thinking about or understanding the negative consequences involved.

Now that we've explored some of the key online risks, it's time to consider appropriate online safety measures.

These strategies will help you to protect kids in out of home care.

A range of strategies should be implemented in all households to help kids stay safe online.

Some may already be familiar to you.

Internet safety strategies must be tailored to kids ages and abilities.

There should always be a focus on skill and knowledge building as kids get older.

This ensures they become active participants in their own security.

Internet safety strategies differ for kids over and under  years of age.

This is because their levels of cognitive development, online behaviour, understanding of risks and ability to take protective steps are different.

For kids under , it's important to focus on supervision, parental controls and rules for Internet use.

For those over , the focus should be on education, awareness and critical thinking.

Let's explore the elements of Internet safety in more detail.

It's important to develop Internet and device usage rules with the kids you support.

This ensures they are active participants in their own safety online.

They're also more likely to understand why rules are in place and to follow them.

Start by discussing how they access the Internet and where they might be exposed to harm.

This will help you determine the focus of your rules.

They might cover reducing exposure to harmful material, ensuring respectful online behaviour or balancing time online with other activities.

Ensure you set clear, age appropriate rules.

Develop specific guidelines about what is and isn't allowed online, which may include time limits, device locations, permitted websites and apps, and guidelines from social media use.

Be sure to regularly review your rules to ensure they remain relevant and effective.

This should happen as kids grow older and technology access changes.

Revisit and adjust rules as required.

It can also be helpful to develop rewards and logical consequences with your kids linked to the rules that you've set to be most effective.

Focus on rewarding good Internet behaviour.

Any consequence you should be connected to the behaviours you're targeting.

This could include reducing the amount of screen time allowed if a child spends too long online, or increasing supervision of Internet use if they've access content you restricted.

You'll notice that we're talking about limiting rather than removing access.

It's important to understand that allowing access to the Internet enables social connections, access to education and support services for kids in out of home care.

Don't forget that others in the house can also model good Internet behaviour.

Wherever possible, all household members should follow the rules and support kids to use the Internet positively.

Any rule or strategy will work more effectively when you can communicate well with your kids.

A key part of this is developing a positive and trusting relationship with them.

When kids trust the adults that support them, they feel safer and more able to communicate successes, worries, and concerns.

But kids in out of home care often find it difficult to trust others because they've experienced so much trauma and adversity.

Trust takes time to develop, but you could help by being consistent, honest and open in your communication.

It's important to talk openly about Internet rules and usage, and show your interests by asking curious questions about their online experiences, including anything they're worried or unsure about.

It's important to ensure kids are well educated about online risks.

Engage them in regular fact based discussions about the online environment, including potential dangers and how to respond.

Explain the difference between friends they made online and in real life.

Ensure that they understand the concept of strangers online and why they shouldn't communicate with people they don't know.

This is especially important for younger kids.

You can also teach kids the difference between personal and public information.

Make sure they understand what information is safe to share and what could expose them to harm.

This might include personal information like their full name, address and details about their school.

Discuss the permanence of their online posts, including any images or information they share.

It's vital that kids understand when something has been shared, they no longer have control over it.

During these discussions, kids may disclose something distressing or unwelcome that's happened to them online.

If this happens, stay calm and provide support.

Reassure them that they're not in trouble and won't be punished, so they feel safer coming to you in the future.

It's important that you support kids to develop responsible, respectful and ethical online behaviour.

This includes training people online as they would face to face and thinking before they post.

Educate kids about appropriate digital behaviours, including being polite and respectful in online interactions and valuing others opinions even when they differ from their own.

Children also benefit from understanding the impact of their digital footprint.

It's vital they understand that their online actions can have long term impacts on things like relationships, education and employment opportunities.

You can model positive online behaviour through your own actions and interactions.

Show them how to use their online presence to contribute positively.

This might be through sharing helpful information, supporting causes or creating uplifting content.

It's important to focus on what kids should be doing online and the behaviours that you expect.

This shows them what to do rather than what not to do, and helps them make good decisions independently as they get older.

Parental controls are another effective way to protect kids from potential harm online.

Different parental controls will work best in different households.

It's important to explain your reason for setting controls and involve kids in establishing them.

Also, ensure that you're consistently monitoring their online activity and immediately discuss any issues or concerns as they arise.

The restriction settings you use should be based on age and needs.

They should be reviewed regularly and updated as kids grow and gain more independence.

For kids under , parental control should be more restrictive to reduce the likelihood of access to inappropriate material.

This may include supervising access, using content controls to block access to inappropriate websites and apps, using monitoring tools that track online activity, and limiting features like data connectivity.

You should also review apps, websites and games and follow suggested age ratings.

The kids over  you should gradually allow more independence while reducing monitoring as they mature.

It can be useful to set screen time limits to ensure balanced use and restrict when and where devices can be used.

Adolescents should be more in charge of their own online safety.

Encourage responsible and mindful use of technology, teach them about privacy settings and data protection, and maintain open communication about their online experiences.

Remember, each child is different, so it's important to adjust age based guidelines to match their maturity and needs.

By the time kids leave care, they should be able to safely navigate the online world, limit their own usage and maintain privacy.

Supervision is a vital part of ensuring online safety.

You must monitor online activity for kids under .

After this, you should decrease direct supervision and increase independence as kids build their own Internet safety skills.

The easiest way to monitor Internet usage is to keep all Internet enabled devices in a common area of the house.

You should also only allow Internet access at times when an adult can actively supervise and preferably see the computer or device screen.

You may also supervise by regularly checking browser history and the apps kids have access to.

This is a helpful strategy when giving older kids more independence over device use.

To help kids stay safe from online harm, it's vital to build these critical thinking skills.

These skills help them effectively analyse information, problem solve and make good decisions.

Critical thinking helps kids understand and manage online risks.

To build critical thinking skills, start by building their curiosity.

Encourage them to ask you questions about the world around them and ask them open questions about different topics.

Use things you watch or read to inspire topics of conversation.

Kids should also be able to accurately analyse and evaluate information.

Help them understand the importance of checking facts and the credibility of sources.

Encourage them to examine and cross reference information using multiple sources.

A key skill in critical thinking is problem solving.

It's important to help kids identify issues and work through problem solving steps while not providing them with the answers.

Encourage them to reflect on their experiences and decisions and think about what they could do differently next time.

You can also support kids to develop critical thinking through modelling.

Talk through your thought process when making decisions or solving problems.

Demonstrate the skills you use, like considering the pros and cons of a decision.

Critical thinking skills can help kids independently navigate the online environment safely.

Thank you for viewing this webinar on E Safety.

Remember, E safety is not just about voiding risks, it's also focused on building kids ability to identify and manage risks independently.

Thank you.