Minister convened the MAC Join our Carer Celebraon Event 2015 Join FCAV online at www.fcav.org.au or call (03) 9416 4292 @vicfostercare facebook.com/fostercarevictoria FCAV member prizes to be won...See page 3 for details and be quick! Email: [email protected]with your details or call the FCAV on: 9416 4292. Like us on: Inside this edion: In brief page 2 Carer Giſt Enclosed page 3 New Informaon Sheets page 4 Permanent Care Reforms page 5 Carer Reporng Responsibilies page 6 Carer Opportunies - 2 Conferences page 7 Foster a Plant Campaign page 8 You’re invited... We are really excited to be welcoming Chrisne Nixon APM as our guest speaker along with the Hon. Jenny Mikakos, MP. Minister for Families, Children and Youth Affairs in Victoria, at the upcoming Carer Celebraon Event on Monday 14 September, 2015. Chrisne has an extraordinary life. She has pursued and been given many responsibilies. She has experienced the best and worst of human behaviour. Chrisne was the 19th Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police, the first woman to become a police commissioner in Australia. She led 14,000 staff, operang across more than 500 locaons and oversaw an annual budget of $1.7 billion. She has been in posions of high responsibility on many fronts and connues to lead and inspire through her workshops and mentoring. She has been highly praised and highly cricised, but never ignored. As a woman who rose to leadership in a male-dominated profession, Chrisne is sure to be an inspiring speaker and we hope you can join us on the day. www.fcav.org.au/news/register-now-fcavs-2015-carer-celebraon-agm August 2015 Newsleer - Caring for Carers
Transcript
Minister convened the MAC
Join our Carer Celebration Event 2015
Join FCAV online at www.fcav.org.auor call (03) 9416 4292
@vicfostercarefacebook.com/fostercarevictoria
FCAV member prizes to be won...See page 3 for details and be quick!Email: [email protected] with your details or call the FCAV on: 9416 4292.
Be quick!
Like us on:
Inside this edition:In brief page 2
Carer Gift Enclosed page 3
New Information Sheets page 4
Permanent Care Reforms page 5
Carer Reporting Responsibilities page 6
Carer Opportunities - 2 Conferences page 7
Foster a Plant Campaign page 8
You’re invited...
We are really excited to be welcoming Christine Nixon APM as our guest speaker along with the Hon. Jenny Mikakos, MP. Minister for Families, Children and Youth Affairs in Victoria, at the upcoming Carer Celebration Event on Monday 14 September, 2015. Christine has an extraordinary life. She has pursued and been given many responsibilities. She has experienced the best and
worst of human behaviour. Christine was the 19th Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police, the first woman to become a police commissioner in Australia. She led 14,000 staff, operating across more than 500 locations and oversaw an annual budget of $1.7 billion. She has been in positions of high responsibility on many fronts and continues to lead and inspire through her workshops and mentoring. She has been highly praised and highly criticised, but never ignored. As a woman who rose to leadership in a male-dominated profession, Christine is sure to be an inspiring speaker and we hope you can join us on the day. www.fcav.org.au/news/register-now-fcavs-2015-carer-celebration-agm
August 2015 Newsletter - Caring for Carers
2 fcavnewsletteraugust2015 www.fcav.org.au
Welcome to the Caring for Carers edition of the newsletter. It is at this time of year we annually give praise and thanks to all carers and their families for the efforts you make year-round to provide safe, nurturing homes to Victoria’s children and young people living out of home. Thank you for opening your home and your hearts to the young people of Victoria in Out of Home Care.
We warmly invite you to join us for the Foster Care Association Carer Celebration Event on Monday 14 September at 10.30am. The ANZ Pavilion is a beautiful space and we aim to make your day a special one. It will be inspiring to hear Christine Nixon speak, as well as hear from Jenny Mikakos, Minister for Families, Children and Youth Affairs in Victoria.
We are excited to be launching our Foster a Plant Campaign to raise funds so we can better support you. Please see the back cover for information on this initiative.
Also find on page 7 the offer of a supported place for a foster carer at both the IFCO and the CREATE Conferences. We urge you to consider this opportunity and apply.
From the CEO In brief...
Katie Hooper, Chief Executive Officer, FCAV
CISS Hotline: (03) 9416 4292
Are you a carer? Do you have questions about your role? Are you having issues you need to discuss with someone? Your calls help us to identify the key issues affecting carers across Victoria, strengthening our advocacy in the Out of Home Care sector.
CREATE Foundation Report - Sibling Placement and Contact in Out of Home CareA new report by the CREATE Foundation has identified that children and young people in Out of Home Care across Australia place importance on living with their brothers and sisters, the people they most want contact with when they are not living together.This research shows that many children and young people do not live with all of their siblings in Out of Home Care, and contact with the siblings who are not placed with them is not always regular or easily accessed.For more details, go to: http://create.org.au/resources/sibling-contact/
Stability Planning and Permanent Care Project The Protecting Victoria’s Vulnerable Children (“Cummins”) Inquiry recommended that research be undertaken to determine why there can be delays of 5 years or more to reach permanent care orders. We’ve kept you informed of FCAV’s advocacy on the Stability Planning and Permanent Care Project working group and outcomes can be read in the report.The report can be accessed at: www.dhs.vic.gov.au/about-the-department/documents-and-resources/reports-publications/stability-planning-and-permanent-care-projectPlease see page 5 for more information on this research.
Financial Support Guide for Home-based Carers UpdateThe 2015-16 care allowance rates are available through our website, and the Financial support guide for home-based carers link has also been updated.http://www.fcav.org.au/carer-resources/care-giver-rates
FCAV is funded through the State Government of Victoria and is grateful for the support of agency subscribers.
Vale Sue JacksonWe’d like to acknowledge the work of Sue Jackson, a foster carer in Victoria who passed away recently. Sue Jackson and her husband Reg became foster carers in 2003, taking on permanent care of 3 young brothers for the last several years. Sue’s commitment to the boys was unwavering and she fully supported the OOHC program and was a regular at foster care training, social activities and camps. We send our condolences to Sue’s family with many thanks for her contribution to foster care.
FCAV Cultural SupportBetti Gabriel has joined the Foster Care Association as our new Cultural Support Worker, to assist carers with information and support in maintaining and being sensitive to, the culture of the children and young people in care coming from diverse backgrounds. Caring for a child from a different culture to your own? Call Betti on 9416 4292
Federal Budget 2015-2016The Treasurer, Joe Hockey, handed down the 2015 – 2016 Federal Budget on 12 May 2015. Key points that will be of interest to carers are detailed on our website at: http://www.fcav.org.au/news/federal-budget-2015-2016
Please find your lens cloth gift from us with this August 2015 FCAV newsletter. This is a small token to remind you that we’re here to clarify any issues or questions you have along your foster care journey. No enquiry is too big or too small. As you clean your glasses or computer screen, remember the Foster Care Association is here to clarify issues and offer support and advice to all Victorian foster carers.Call the Carer Information and Support Service Hotline on: 9416 4292.
Your gift from FCAV - offering some clarityCarer
members gift!
Carer Competitions, Invites and Support
Spring Clean... Vouchers to be won!FCAV Carer Members... Spring is a great time to organise a clean up around the house and garden. We have several Jim’s Mowing vouchers worth $200 to give away, valid for any of their franchises throughout Victoria and able to be used for a spring clean around the house or in the garden.
To be in the running to win a voucher, please email by Monday 14 September, 2015 with the subject header “Jim’s Mowing voucher” and in the body of the email answer the question “Name a guest speaker at the upcoming FCAV Carer Celebration and AGM.”
Please send your name, home and/or mobile phone numbers, home address, and your agency to: [email protected] or call the FCAV office on: 9416 4292.
Be quick towin!
Foster Care Association of Victoria Inc. Annual General Meeting and Carer Celebration Day
Notice is hereby given that the 2015 Annual General Meeting of the Foster Care Association of Victoria Inc. will be held on:
Monday 14 September 2015Welcome: 10:30 AM
At: ANZ Pavilion Arts Centre100 St Kilda Road, Melbourne
We encourage all foster carers to join us at this event. *Please note that children are welcome, however we are unable to offer childcare.
RSVP your attendance online at www.fcav.org.au by 5pm, Monday 24 August, 2015
Have you seen the foster carer interviews on the FCAV website...?Do you know someone who is considering becoming a foster carer? The FCAV website links to video interviews with several of our foster carer members who provide useful insights into becoming a foster carer and beyond. http://www.fcav.org.au/become-a-carer
A glimpse inside CISS Advocacy: Quality of Care storyThe Carer Information and Support Service team had been working with a Foster Carer for several months after the child he was caring for was removed following an allegation of abuse. CISS staff supported the carer through the Quality of Care investigation process, attending interviews and liaising with the foster care agency and Child Protection staff.
The outcome of this investigation was a substantiation of abuse. CISS subsequently lodged a Request for Review of this outcome with DHHS on behalf of the carer and a thorough review process was undertaken by the Divisional Child Protection Director, including further interviews also attended by CISS staff.
CISS assisted the carer to prepare submissions to the Department for the review, guided the carer through the review processes and ensured the carer was receiving appropriate counselling supports as required. We also ensured that Departmental contact with the carer was timely and consistent. The outcome of this review was that the substantiation of abuse was overturned.
If you have an issue or enquiry you’d like to discuss with CISS, please don’t hesitate to call 9416 4292.
Respite Care – Dual Payments FCAV recently advocated for a foster carer regarding dual reimbursements when she accessed respite for the child in her care.
Unfortunately, at the time this respite was utilised, the carer’s agency failed to seek approval from the DHHS Placement Coordination Unit so that dual reimbursements could be paid to both carers.
The DHHS requirements to approve dual reimbursements are:
(a) Respite placement up to 7 days: reimbursements to both the primary and respite caregiver will be made.
(b) Respite placements for 8 – 28 days: case-by-case discretion, however, it is anticipated payments to both caregivers will occur other than in situations where the reason for the respite placement is that the primary caregiver is travelling for a holiday.
(c) Respite placements for 29 days or more: payments to the primary caregiver will cease for the period of respite other than in exceptional circumstances.
The process for options (b) and (c) requires the agency and the Child Protection Manager to recommend that dual payments are warranted. This is done on a case-by-case basis. The Placement Coordination Unit Manager will be required to endorse the decision to make a dual payment in these circumstances.
EducationThere are two education information documents referenced in the FCAV training “Being Heard” which have been added to the FCAV website at:www.fcav.org.au/carer-resources/articles-and-publications under the DHHS heading:• Partnering Agreement: School Attendance and
Engagement of Children and Young People in Out of Home Care
• Education Partnering Agreement
PassportsThe Information sheet we continue to highlight, if you are even thinking about travel is the Passports Information Sheet. Getting the timing and documents right for travel is vital and often lengthier than you might assume. http://www.fcav.org.au/images/carer-resources/information-sheets/Passports.pdf
The FCAV Carer Information and Support Service produce Information Sheets designed to answer the frequently asked questions that come up for carers. The sheets are publicly available at: http://www.fcav.org.au/carer-resources/information-sheetsNew Information Sheet: Accessing Your Care HistoryFrom time to time, FCAV receives inquiries from people who have been in care and are now seeking their records, family members, foster carers and personal history. If you have had a care experience, or are supporting someone in this situation, the contacts below may be of assistance.http://www.fcav.org.au/news/new-information-sheet-accessing-your-care-history
Information Sheets - simple, direct answers to carer FAQs
Carers will be very aware that, last year, the Victorian Parliament passed amendments to the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 that will change case planning and orders for the protection and permanent care of children. This was the final outcome of the DHHS Stability Planning and Permanent Care Project on which FCAV reported in previous newsletters.
The amendments address key recommendations of the January 2012 Report of the Protecting Victoria’s Vulnerable Children Inquiry regarding the simplification of Children’s Court orders and identifying and removing barriers to achieving permanent placements for children.
The major changes include:
• A new suite of Children’s Court orders that are clearer and linked with case plans to better protect children from harm.
• Introducing timelines to achieve reunification of children – parents will have an initial 12 months to resolve issues so they can resume care of their child – at the end of this period either an additional 12 months will be provided where reunification is likely to be achieved in the 12 months, or permanent alternative care will be sought.
• Changing some of the features of permanent care orders (which make a carer the child’s legal parent and where a child remains in their care until they are an adult).
Implementation of these changes is now underway with Child Protection and agency staff attending information sessions to familiarise themselves with the changes. Changes to Children’s Court orders will come into effect not before October 2015 and no later than 1 March 2016.
The table below details the changes to orders.
Permanent Care Reforms
Introducing our Cultural Support WorkerWe’re very pleased to introduce Betti Gabriel, the Foster Care Association’s new Cultural Support Worker. This position has been made possible through a grant from the Ian Potter Foundation, which provides specific support to cultural diversity issues in the community. The Cultural Support Worker position will be ongoing for the next 12 months.
Betti’s role will be a valuable addition to our Carer Information and Support Service (CISS). She will be available to assist carers in accessing information and resources related to caring for children from diverse backgrounds. She’ll also be providing feedback and research to the FCAV on foster carer needs specific to cultural support.
Be in touch with Betti on our CISS hotline: 9416 4292.
Above: Betti Gabriel
Current Order Will BecomeSupervision order Family preservation orderCustody to third part order (will continue to end date)Supervised custody order Family reunification orderCustody to Secretary order – in place less than 2 years Family reunification orderCustody to Secretary order – in place 2 years or more Care by secretary order*Guardianship to Secretary order Care by Secretary orderLong – term guardianship to Secretary order Long – term care orderInterim protection order (will continue to next hearing)Undertaking (not affected)Interim accommodation order (not affected) Existing permanent care order (not affected)
New online survey for 16-19 year old Victorians with a care experience! The Department of Health & Human Services has commissioned the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) to undertake research on the experiences of young Victorians leaving Out of Home Care. The study is called Beyond 18: The Longitudinal Study on Leaving Care and is the first of its kind in Victoria. Beyond 18’s survey for young people is now online.
Young Victorians are eligible to participate if they are aged 16–19 years and have spent time in foster care, residential care, lead tenant, permanent care, or kinship care placements. Survey closes end of September 2015.
The survey is part of Beyond 18, a long-term study on leaving care (www.beyond18.com.au).
Carers can help by:
Asking 16-19 year olds you support to complete the online survey to get a $50 gift card and providing the young person with an opportunity to complete the survey with you.
www.aifs.gov.au/beyond18/yps
FCAV has secured 12 tickets to The Berry Street Childhood Institute’s Melbourne session of Dr Bruce D. Perry presenting on Transforming Childhood Trauma - A neuroscience approach to healing and recovery.Bruce D. Perry, child psychiatrist, neuroscientist and best-selling author on children in crisis is returning to Australia in October to present a one-day workshop. In this workshop, Dr Perry will demonstrate the potential for child abuse and neglect to have devastating consequences on the child’s developing brain. Dr Perry will also demonstrate the potential for recovery and healing through both ordinary and extraordinary means. Workshop details:Date: 19th October 2015.Time: 10am - 4pm (Registrations will open at 9am).Location: Flemington Racecourse – The Atrium, 448 Epsom Rd, Flemington Victoria.Competition closing date: Monday 21st September 2015.To be in the running to win a ticket, please email [email protected] with your full contact details including your full name, home and/or mobile phone numbers, home address, and your agency or call the FCAV office on: 9416 4292.
Free!Be Quick!
A new offence for failure to disclose child sexual abuse came into force on 27 October 2014. This offence has been introduced as part of the Crimes Amendment (Protection of Children) Act 2014.
The new offence requires that any adult (aged 18 and over) who holds a reasonable belief that a sexual offence has been committed in Victoria by an adult against a child (aged under 16) disclose that information to police (unless they have a reasonable excuse).
It is a reasonable excuse for not reporting under the offence if the person believes on reasonable grounds that the information has already been disclosed to police by another person and they have no further information. This ensures that:
• people are not required to report the same information to different organisations; and
• multiple people within the same organisation are not required to report the same information to police.
Carers should be aware of their agency’s procedures for reporting allegations of sexual abuse to police, which clearly set out roles and responsibilities of staff and carers. This will minimise duplication of reporting and ensure protection from liability under the offence if they do not report directly to police. In other words, if a carer reports allegations to agency staff who then undertake to call the police and/or child protection, the carer is protected from liability. Obviously if a carer forms a reasonable concern for a non-foster care child, they would be responsible to call police as a general member of the community.
For more information go to: http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/about-the-department/documents-and-resources/policies,-guidelines-and-legislation/new-criminal-offences-to-improve-responses-to-child-sexual-abuse
Reporting Suspected Sexual Abuse – Carer Responsibilities
IFCO Conference 2015 - Offer of support for Carer attendanceThis year, the International Foster Care Organisation (IFCO) Conference is subtitled “Tell Someone Who Cares” and will take place in Sydney, Australia. Conference dates are November 8-11, 2015. For information on the conference, click on the link to the conference website below: http://www.ifco2015.com/
Enter to win a supported place!
If you are a carer member interested and available to attend all 4 days of the Conference, FCAV is offering free registration, flights and accomodation.
To be in the running to secure a supported place, please email by Monday 21 September, 2015 with the subject header “IFCO Conference” and in the body of the email tell us briefly what you aim to get out of the conference and how your attendance will benefit the broader foster care community. Please include your name, home and/or mobile phone numbers, home address, and your agency and email: [email protected] or call the FCAV office on: 9416 4292.
ACT Group seminars training ticket offers
The ACT Group deliver quality training and development opportunities. There are a number of training opportunities on offer. For a chance to win a place please visit: http://www.fcav.org.au/news/free-training-your-chance-to-win *Regional carers: we may be able to support some travel/accomodation expenses. Contact FCAV on 9416 4292 to discuss.
Register now!
YOUTH FOR CHANGE CONFERENCE 2015 - Offer of support for Carer attendanceThe Youth for Change Conference is proudly hosted by CREATE Foundation, the peak consumer body representing the voices of children and young people in Out of Home Care.
The Youth for Change Conference will be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre from the 2 – 4 October, 2015. It is open to all children and young people in care in Australia. The conference will also be open to, and appealing for carers, government officials and those working in the sector.
The overall purpose of Youth for Change: Creating a Better Future, is to provide an international forum for young people with a care experience to learn and grow, build self-confidence and to connect with their peers and those working within the system. The collective aim is to enhance community awareness, to reduce the stigma associated with children and young people with a care experience and to provide them with an avenue to feel empowered and informed — to have a say and be heard.
For more information or to register your place, please visit: http://youthforchange.create.org.au/
Enter to win a supported place!
If you are a carer member interested and available to attend all 3 days of the Conference, FCAV is offering free registration, flights and accomodation.
To be in the running to secure a supported place, please email by Monday 7 September, 2015 with the subject header “CREATE Conference” and in the body of the email tell us briefly what you aim to get out of attendance at the CREATE Youth for Change Conference and how your attendance will benefit the broader foster care community. Please include your name, home and/or mobile phone numbers, home address, and your agency and email: [email protected] or call the FCAV office on: 9416 4292.
Carer offer!Enter now...
Hurry!Enter now...
CREATE membership ensures children and young people access vital supports As Australia’s peak body representing the voices of all children and young people in Out of Home Care, CREATE provides an invaluable network of support and activities for children and young people and represents their interests to government and service providers. FCAV urges you to ensure the children in your care are members of the CREATE Foundation. We believe that membership with CREATE is as vital to children in care as membership with FCAV is for carers. To find out more, visit:www.create.org.au or email: [email protected] or 1800 655 105.
Foster Care Association of Victoria IncLevel 1, 398 Smith Street, Collingwood, Victoria, 3066P: (03) 9416 4292F: (03) 8415 0297E: [email protected]: www.fcav.org.auABN: 30 747 010 099 @vicfostercare
facebook.com/fostercarevictoria
Like us on:Foster Care Association of Victoria IncLevel 1, 398 Smith Street, Collingwood, Victoria, 3066P: (03) 9416 4292E: [email protected]: www.fcav.org.auABN: 30 747 010 099
The Foster Care Association of Victoria is launching a spring fundraiser ‘Foster a Plant Campaign’, kicking off on 1 September and running through September, including Foster Care week, 13-19 September, 2015.
Fostering a plant and hosting a fundraising event may be of interest to you and your family, but we encourage you to involve your friends, your workplace, a business you are close to and your extended family too.
The aim of our ‘Foster a Plant Campaign’ is twofold. It will raise vital funds for the FCAV to use in supporting carers, and it will also get a new network of people learning more about the vital needs of children in Out of Home Care and the work you do as a foster carer.
Please go to www.fcav.org.au and follow the link: Foster a Plant Campaign to find out more.
