Foster Care Victoria

Anyone who lives in the Manningham or Whitehorse area is invited the Information Evening tomorrow night (May 6th) at 47-53 Tunstall Rd, Doncaster East (Baptist Church), beginning at 7.30.

If you’re not in this area see out Events Listing for other locations or fill out this online form for someone to contact you from your area.

Foster care training will be held in Box Hill beginning at the end of May which uses the Shared Stories Shared Lives package. Training is free of charge and is open to anyone who would like to know more about the foster care system, supporting children who have expereinced trauma or who is interested in becoming involved in foster care at any level.

There are information sessions being held over Melbourne’s east about the training or 1300 889 335 is the number to call to inquire about booking.

This invitation was published on Maroondah Leader’s Website.

Much discussion has occurred lately in the media surrounding the challenges faced by parents raising children in the electronic age – ‘An Evening with Andrew Fuller’ to be held on Thursday 17 April at Tintern Girls Grammar promises to delivery many of the answers.

During the course of the evening Andrew, Clinical Psychologist and Family Therapist, explores parenting strategies for raising real people and embracing the new ‘click and go’ generation. While Andrew is a Fellow of the Department of Psychiatry and the Department of Learning and Educational Development at the University of Melbourne, he offers parents realistic and down-to-earth solutions for the challenges that our children face.

The evening is open to anyone interested in raising confident and happy children and commences at 7pm in the CM Wood Centre, Tintern Girls Grammar, 90 Alexandra Road, Ringwood East.

Anglicare Victoria are holding a foster care information session in Melbourne’s outer-east during Youth Week.

If you’ve ever thought about fostering, volunteering to help a child or young person in need, or just want to make a difference, then this is for you.

 Anglicare provides foster care and support for children and young people aged 0-18, an Adolescent Community Placement (ACP) program for young people aged 13-17, and several specific programs for children and young people with a disability or high needs.

Information Session- Lilydale

Date:  Monday April 7th

Time: 7:30-8:30pm

Venue:   Anglicare Victoria Yarra Ranges, 47-51 Castella St, Lilydale, VIC

Anglicare Victoria are holding two foster care information sessions in Melbourne’s Eastern suburbs over the coming weeks.

If you’ve ever thought about fostering, volunteering to help a child or young person in need, or just want to make a difference, then this is for you.

 Anglicare provides foster care and support for children and young people aged 0-18, an Adolescent Community Placement (ACP) program for young people aged 13-17, and several specific programs for children and young people with a disability or high needs.

Information Session #1 - Vermont South

Date:  Thursday 7th February

Time: 7:30-8:30pm

Venue:   Vermont South Library, Pavey Place, Vermont South, VIC

Information Session #2 - Glen Waverley

Date:  Friday 8th February

Time:  7:30-8:30pm

Venue: Kerrie Neighbourhood House, 36 Kincumber Drive, Glen Waverley, VIC

Both sessions are free and all are welcome.  Free information DVDs will be available on the night.  Please call Josh on 1300 889 335 for more details. 

I hope you have all had a lovely Christmas.  Christmas can be both a wonderful and challenging time of year, especially for children in care, their birth families, and the foster carers who look after them.   I would like to extend a hearty thank you to all carers who read this blog - your contribution to the lives of children is immeasurable.

 Now that the big days are over, most of us are recovering from celebrating and usually way too much eating, and the very organised amongst us are contemplating the year ahead.  So here’s something for the organised diarizer:  The Australian Institute of Family Studies is holding a conference in Melbourne fron the 9-11th of July. You can read more about it here.

Enjoy the snow drifting across the screen (no, your monitor is not malfunctioning) - a seasonal extra from WordPress… 

This advance notice of an exciting community event was put together by one of my colleagues who will be involved on the day…

November 17, a date for your diaries!

Kew will be hosting jumping castles, face painting, tai chi and (fingers
crossed), Melbourne’s own Choir of Hard Knocks for the “Take Action for All
Abilities!” Festival.

The festival aims to promote inclusiveness throughout our community,
bringing businesses, community groups, and people who are marginalized
together for a day of music and fun, and everyone is invited.

All sorts of community groups and organisations will be going along, as well
as many other people from the community. Anglicare will have a stall set up
with information about foster care for anyone who is interested. All Friends
and Carers are also most welcome to come along, especially, but not only,
Friends and Carers involved in the Disability program.
Where: Alexandra Gardens, Kew (along Cotham Rd)

When: November 17th, Midday- 7pm

Why: To celebrate community inclusiveness, and to have fun!

I have just heard about this two-day workshop coming up in December, entitled  ‘Children in Trauma, Trauma in Children’.  The workshop will be presented by trauma specialist Dr Bruce Perry, senior fellow of the Child Trauma Academy .  The workshop will be hosted jointly by Berry Street Victoria, Take Two and the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency.  Bruce Perry has contributed significantly to understanding how children are effected by trauma, and in particular, the impact of trauma on brain development.  This workshop is for carers, workers, and therapists.  I strongly recommend attending if you can, as Bruce Perry’s teaching is both enlightening and hopeful.   The workshop venue is ‘The Centre Ivanhoe’ and each day will run from 9.30pm to 4.00pm.  I don’t have the exact date or costs, but you can contact Amanda Kevin-Tidis on 9429 9266 or akevintidis@berrystreet.org.au for more information.>

I just found a link via the Victorian Fostercare forum  for a brochure for the upcoming national conference.  You can download it here.  The program looks excellent.

Just a reminder that the National Foster Care Conference “Fostering Change” is being held this week at Telstra Dome.  I am sure it is not too late to register if you are interested in going.  The conference will be a great opportunity to meet other carers, share stories and resources, and hear some inspiring speakers.  You can register at the website.