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CARER CONNECT | Shared Family Care | Issue 8 March 2018

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CARER CONNECT

HEALTH & WELLBEING P 3

CULTURAL CONNECT P 4

EVENTS P 5—6

SFC INFORMATION P 7—9

GENERAL INFORMATION P 10– 15

TRAINING P 16-19

KIDS CORNER P 20

PARTNERSHIPS/SUPPORTERS P 21

Welcome to the first Carer Connect

Newsletter for 2018. By the time you

receive this Newsletter it will be the

next lot of school holidays!

At Shared Family Care, the year has

commenced with some exciting things

planned in 2018. We have a number

of internal projects planned such as

the development of an Intranet, and

the implementation of a new web-

based Client Management System, all

of which will streamline processes and

integrate good practice across all Al-

thea Projects programs. In order to

facilitate the implementation of these

systems, Christopher Sweet, has

moved into the role of Project Worker

role for 6 months. With Christopher

taking on this role, I’m excited to wel-

come Ainslee Tirendi to our team as

the Family Case Worker who will ini-

tially take over the support role of the

carers Christopher previously support-

ed.

This year’s focus is on improving the

practice and the way we support car-

ers. When we ask ourselves what is

support, one definition is; giving

strength to, or enabling to last or con-

tinue. With the number of children

and young people presenting with

greater needs then ever who are re-

quiring out-of-home care, this means

how we support carers also needs to

adapt and change. We also

acknowledge the increase in the num-

ber of Kinship Carers and the different

challenges they face to a General Fos-

ter Carer.

In the Carer Support Practice Paper

2015 there are two aspects to carer

support with a degree of overlap be-

tween them (https://

www.communities.qld.gov.au/

resources/.../practice-manual/pp-

carer-support.rtf). They are:

The support required for all car-

ers specific to the goals of the

placement for a particular child

The broader, general develop-

ment and support needs spe-

cific to the carer’s overall role

and responsibility.


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The general support needs of carers are negotiated

during the development of the Foster Carer Agree-

ment or Kinship Carer Agreement. The development

and support needs of Kinship Carers, along with the

support needs of the child are also negotiated and

documented in the Placement Agreement.

By providing carers with an appropriate level of sup-

port, there is an increased likelihood of:

Providing out-of-home care consistent with

the paramount principle of the Act, that is, the

safety, wellbeing and best interest of a child

are paramount.

Providing a level of care that meets the State-

ment of Standards and the Charter of Rights

for a Child in Care.

Improving outcomes for children in out-of-

home care, their carers and carer families.

As such I’m interested in knowing how we can im-

prove our support of Carers and look forward to

reading your responses to the Carer Feedback Survey

provided in February. I’m also working alongside

others in the region to develop a strategy on how to

implement the actions outlined in the Partner In

Care forums and other relevant Child Protection re-

forms held over the past twelve months within our

region. As Shared Family Care is the largest foster

and kinship care agency within our region, Shared

Family Care is committed to continuous improve-

ment and providing the best quality support to both

Foster and Kinship Carers. With your feedback, great

things can happen!

Also, together with the other Foster and Kinship Care

support agencies, we have a number of events and

training planned for carers and children throughout

the year. This joint agency approach has been as a

result of again listening to carers at the Partner in

Care forums that were held last year. I encourage

you refer to the Events Calendar in this Newsletter

and read what we have offered for 2018 and plan to

attend where you can.

The team and I look forward to working alongside

you throughout 2018. Thank you again for your con-

tinual commitment to the children and young people

you care for.

Teresa Smith

Program Manager


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Health and Wellbeing


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Cultural Connect

Deadly families are happy, safe and strong

Join us for a fun and exciting day for the whole Family and

Community

Community Stalls | Cultural Performances | Inspiring Guest

Speakers | Live Music | Free Sausage Sizzle | Fun Activities for

the Kids

Celebrating Healthy and Respectful Relationships

Saturday May 19th 2018, 10am—2pm

Pioneer Park, Riverway


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Events

Events

22 – 28 April - Foster and Kinship Care Week

13th May – National Families Week - Family Fun

Day at Wee Care

19th May – Deadly Day Out at Riverway

27th May – 3rd June – National Reconciliation Week

(stay tuned for more information about all the

above events in the coming weeks)


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Events

Spend an afternoon playing, creating and discovering. The second

of our Little Day Out series will be held at Rossiter Park in Aitken-

vale.

This free family event will have lots of activities to keep children

and young people entertained throughout the afternoon, including

face painting, storytelling, Come and Try circus and aerials, imagina-

tive play, dance and visual arts. Local community organisations will

be featured along with Council's Library Services First Five Forever

program.

All activities are free, however children will need to be registered

and wearing a wristband to participate. To avoid the queue on the

day, you can pre-register here:

https://www.trybooking.com/UIXC

Drinks and snacks will be available to purchase.


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SFC Information

BILLABONG SANCTUARY

Shared Family Care have Billabong Sanctuary pass cards available for our Foster Carers. These cards allow you to visit Billabong Sanctuary when you have a child/ren placed in your care. Carers can only use one card at any time which will allow you to bring along up to a total of 17 persons including yourself.

If you are interested in using the Billabong Sanctuary pass cards please call Shared Family Care on 47793332 to book your preferred date to attend. When contacting Shared Family Care to make your booking please ensure that you have the date you would like to attend, number of children and number of adults attending. Without all these details we are unable to process your booking. Bookings can only be made through Shared Family Care and you must not contact the Billabong Sanctuary directly.

https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwi2l8Dw68jSAhWDKpQKHSkyCeoQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ilovecairnsdeals.com.au%2Fcategory%2Fescape-cairns-deals&psig=AFQjCNFjIeUP2ISe5iThdiQM7UBUEmuU_Q&ust=1489


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Take my hand Take my hand and come with me I want to teach you about ADHD I need you to know, I want to explain, I have a very different brain Sights, sounds and thoughts collide What to do first? I can’t decide Please understand I’m not to blame I just can’t process things the same Take me hand and walk with me Let me show you about ADHD I try to behave, I want to be good But I sometimes forget to do as I should Walk with me and wear my shoes You’ll see it’s not the way I’d choose I know what Im supposed to do But my brain is slow getting the message through Take my hand and talk with me I want to tell you about ADHD I really think before I talk I often run when I should walk It’s hard to get my school work done My thoughts are outside having fun I never know just where to start I think with my feelings and see with my heart Take my hand and stand by me I need you to know about ADHD It’s hard to explain but I want you to know I can’t help littering my feelings show Sometimes Im angry, jealous and sad I feel overwhelmed, frustrated and mad I can’t concentrate and I lose all my stuff I try really hard but it’s never enough Take my hand and learn with me We need to know more about ADHD I worry a lot about getting things wrong Everything I do takes twice as long Every day is exhausting for me Looking through the fog of ADHD I’m often so misunderstood I would change in a heartbeat if I could

Take my hand and listen to me I want to share a secret about ADHD I want you to know there's more to me I’m not defined by it you see Im sensitive, kind and lots of fun I’m blamed for things I haven’t done I’m the loyalist friend you’ll ever know I just need a chance to let it show Take my hand and look at me Just forget about the ADHD I have feelings just like you The love in my heart is just as true I may have a brain that can never rest But please understand I’m trying my best I want you to know, I need you to see I’m more than the label, I am still me. By Andrea Chesterman-Smith


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Foster Care Queensland Membership

Foster Care Queensland is the Peak organisation for foster and kinship carers across QLD. As the Peak organisation for carers they provide a range of services that are unique to a Peak organisation, includ-ing individual support and advocacy on behalf of carers and their families, their FAST network, the de-velopment and delivery of practice based training and broad policy and practice development in all are-as affecting carers (some of which is happening in Townsville over the next few months).

One of the ways FCQ communicate with carers is through their bi-monthly Reporter newsletter. The Reporter provides relevant, up to date and important information to carers relating to all areas of providing foster and kinship care in Qld. Each reporter includes:

* An article from the Minister of Child Safety

* An article from myself as Executive Director of FCQ

* An article from our President of FCQ

* Articles from both our Senior Team Leader and Northern and Far Northern Qld Case officer

* A Good News article which highlights a story relating to a carer family where positive outcomes have been achieved

* Various articles relating to Policy, Procedure and Legislation and what this means for carers

* Any important information relating to events, initiatives, projects or other activities that carers need to know about

* Advertising training events and carer support groups across the State

The Reporters offer another avenue for you to receive critical information relating to your role, in addi-tion to the Carer Connect Newsletter we provide.

Shared Family Care is offering to pay for your first years membership as another part of your support package. You are then able to determine if you would like to continue on with this membership.

If you would like to take up this offer please complete the FCQ Membership Application and return to [email protected]. To get a copy of the FCQ Membership Application please contact Katisha Skeene on 4779 3332 or email her at [email protected]. Do not complete the pay-ment section – we will pay on your behalf.

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


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INFORMATION SHEET Loss or Damage to Property (Special Payment)

All carers are encouraged to insure and secure their property and valuables. Carers are encouraged to discuss whether be-coming a carer will change or impact on the views of their insurer and the terms of their insurance policy. An insurer will often consider a child in care as part of your household insurance for insurance purposes. This will usually cover the specific acci-dental breakages that are included in your insurance policy. However, if a child is known to have behaviour that leads to delib-erate damage to property, this may not be covered by your policy. If in doubt, you should discuss it with your insurance com-pany.

While carers should take all possible precautions to minimise incidence of property damage, theft or injury through securing items of value and maintaining adequate supervision of children, it is acknowledged that accidents and incidents of theft can and do occur. Should your Insurance policy not cover the loss or damage, Child Safety, under certain circumstances, compen-sate a carer for this. These claims are called ‘ex-gratia’ payments. Ex-gratia is defined as a ‘favour’ as there is no legal obliga-tion on Child Safety to make these payments. Claims for ex-gratia payments will be considered if the child responsible for the damage, theft or injury is placed in your care and your insurance policies do not cover the incident.

Should you seek to claim an ex-gratia payment for the loss or damage of property the claimant needs to undertake the follow-ing steps as soon as possible to the loss or damage occurring:

Contact your Insurance company to make claim; if unsuccessful, seek proof that compensation was sought and rejected Inform the child’s Child Safety Officer and Team Leader of the loss or damage to property and provide details as to how

the loss or damage was caused by the actions or inactions of a child in your care;

Please note that where damage to external doors or windows occurs and there is an immediate need to secure the property, the incident must be reported to Child Safety Service Centre as soon as possible. In the case of damage, a Departmental Officer will need to come and sight the damage.

You will then be provided a SPECIAL PAYMENTS – Property Loss or Damage Application Form to complete. This application needs to be completed and properly made with the Child Safety Service Centre Business Support Officer (BSO) within 90 days of the loss or damage occurring.

For the application to be properly made and processed within the required timeframe the following needs to be attached:

☐ Proof of damage. E.g photo’s, QPS report/s, police crime number (for theft)

and or incident reports

☐ Departmental officer has sighted the damage

☐ Reasonable proof of ownership or legal responsibility. E.g receipts, bank statements,

photographs, a report from the case worker.

☐ Proof to substantiate the value of the claim (two written current quotes including the

breakdown of cost of repairs)

☐ Proof that compensation has been sought elsewhere (eg rejected insurance claim)

Once the application is properly made the claim for loss or damage will be investigated and assessed by the Child Safety Service Centre.

Training GENERAL INFORMATION


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Information for carers

The first stage of Carer Connect will allow foster and

kinship carers to:

• view their personal and household information on

record

• view information and documentation for children in

their care (primary placements)

• upload pictures of their home and family that can be

shown to children when transitioning to a new placement

• make and view contributions to the life story for

children in their care using a digital storyline called

kicbox. (To find out more about kicbox, visit

www.qld.gov.au/youth/family-social-support/kicbox.)

Trialing Carer Connect

The app is to be trialed with a selection of carers and child

safety staff in the Far North Queensland region from March

to June 2018.

The department will work closely with foster and kinship

carer agencies to identify a selection of carers to trial the

app and provide feedback on its use.

The trial’s purpose is to make sure Carer Connect provides

the information and features that will be most valuable

to our carer community. We want the app to be the best

it can be before it is made available to all carers across

the state.

Key features of Carer Connect

Children in my care: carers can view the list of children

that have been placed in their primary care. Information

Includes the child’s name, date of birth, their Child Safety

Service Centre and kicbox status.

My documents: carers can view documents relat-

ed to

them and the children in their care.

My profile: carers can view their personal details

and

information on record.

Child profile: carers can view relevant information on

children in their care, such as birth, culture, health and

education, and any related alerts.

Our home: carers can upload pictures and information

about their home and family that can be used to assist

children and young people to transition to their home.

kicbox storyline: carers can post content, and view their

posts, in a digital life story — kicbox — for children and

young people in their care.

Support: carers can view a list of contacts and support

resources.

What happens after the trial?

Feedback from trial participants will inform the

development of the Carer Connect app to be used by foster

and kinship carers across the state. It will also help to show

additional features the app may need in the future.

The next stage of Carer Connect will look at providing access

to information for other members of a child’s safety and

support network, such as foster and kinship care agencies.

Any questions?

Email the team:

[email protected]

[email protected]


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Training Training

JANUARY FEBUARY MARCH

23rd Caring for Jarjums Training (Townsville)

2nd Caring for Jarjums Training (Townsville)

13th Standards of Care

Training (FCQ)

20th Caring for Jarjums Training (Charters Towers)

27th QCAT Training (FCQ)

APRIL MAY JUNE

19th and 26th Caring for Jarjums Training (Townsville)

30th Caring for Jarjums

Training (Burdekin)

2nd Essential Elements of a Care Team Training (FCQ)

16th Caring for Jarjums

Training (Ingham)

20th Caring for Jarjums Training (Townsville)

22nd Reunification Training

(FCQ)

27th Standard Training (SFC & FCQ)

1st Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder

1st & 8th Caring for Jarjums

Training (Townsville)

3rd & 4th Practice Meets Theory Training – Colin

Hawes (Townsville)

12th, 19th, 14th, 21st Evening Pre-Service Training

(LWB & THAIS)


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Caring for Jarjums Training

The training program is developed for all kinship and foster carers either already caring for or planning to care

for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children and young people. The program is designed to assist carers

understand and provide culturally appropriate care for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children and

young people. Three sessions are included which cover History, Policy and Legislation, Child Rearing in Culture

and Cultural Linkages. This is a joint initiative between Evolve Therapeutic Services and the Department of

Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services. With the support of Althea Projects, Shared Family Care .

Reunification Training (FCQ)

This training provides participants with an overview of reunification and includes exploring parenting, assessing

and planning reunification, what makes a good reunification and building resilience in children and young peo-

ple. It also addresses what carers should do if they have worries and how to manage the grief and loss. The

training is facilitated by Foster Care Queensland.

Standards of Care Training (FCQ)

This training explores the processes undertaken when a Standard of Care of Harm report is raised for a child in

Out Of Home Care who is placed with a carer. The training works through the procedures and highlights the

importance of how practice determines success of procedures. The training is facilitated by Foster Care

Queensland.

Understanding QCAT and Children’s Court (FCQ)

There are some decisions which Child Safety make, that affect foster and kinship carers that can be appealed

through QCAT. This training seeks to outline for carers exactly what these are and how they can go about ap-

pealing a decision. The training is facilitated by Foster Care Queensland.

Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorders

Sue Larkey is a highly qualified special educator who has taught in mainstream and special schools. Sue Larkey

will be presenting Autism Spectrum Disorders teaching strategies and behavior support for school and home. If

you are interested please submit your expression of interest to [email protected] before 28th April.

Parenting the Traumatised Child

These workshops will provide practical strategies and role modelling on how to respond to children and young

people’s escalating behaviors. The workshops includes four sessions over two days which include: Parenting

the traumatised child, PACE & Mindfulness, Trauma and Attachment and Grief and Loss. Each session is ex-

plained in more details in the information sheet. The workshops will be presented by Colin Hawes from Hope

Junction who comes with his own story of living in a foster home. This is a not to be missed opportunity.

Quality Care – Standard Training (Mandatory within first year of approval for Foster Carers)

Following initial approval as a Foster Carer it is mandatory within the first year to complete this training as a

prerequisite for renewal approval. Kinship carers are also welcome to attend. The three modules include: Pro-

moting positive behaviors, Caring for children and young people who have experienced sexual abuse and Carer

support, advocacy and self-care.

Training Training Information


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Training Training


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Training


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Kids Corner

KIDS ACTIVITY

If you could have any animal as your pet, what would it be? And what would you name it?


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Partnerships & Supporters

Our deepest appreciation

4TO FM Aboriginal Women’s Shelter - Flora

House Adspeak Marketing

Aitkenvale Seventh Day Adventist Church Youth Group

Annandale Christian School Anglicare

Annandale Christian School APEX

Aurizon Australian Government-Dept of So-

cial Services Australian Government-Dept of

Health & Ageing Backpacks 4 Aussie Kids Inc

B-Fitt Baiada

Bid Food Billabong Sanctuary

BWS Willows Café Bambini Fairfield Waters Café 1939,Townsville Airport

Captains Lounge Café, Townsville Airport

Carmichael Ford Cathedral School of St Anne & St

James CBC Staff

Centacare Townsville Centrelink (Townville Cyclones So-

cial Club) Child and Mental Health Services

Chunky Pies Churches of Christ Pathways Foster-

ing Service Click Clack Knitting Group

Coast 2 Country Housing Company Coke

Core Developments Crowe Horwath

CWA Country Women’s Association Danielle Josey

Drug Arm Australasia Drop-In Centre

Emanate Legal Families of Townsville

Family Emergency Accommodation Townsville

Fat Dogz Coffee Mercedes Benz Townsville

Mercy Family & Child Connect Myer Community Fund

Myer Staff Group Townsville Nth Qld Domestic Violence Resource

Service Fibres & Fabrics Food Relief NQ

Food Rescue Fortel Communication Pty Ltd

Foster Care Queensland Fresh Selections

Get Branded Grant Broadcasters

Grill’d Restaurant, Townsville Harro’s Fuel Services

Hi Qu Dental IAC Wholesalers

IGA Magnetic Island & Bushland Beach

IGA Tully & Clermont Inner Wheel Club of TSV Intersport Warehouse James Cook University

JJ Richards Knight Frank

Life Without Barriers Leos Club

Lions Club City of Townsville Lotsa Printing Pty Ltd

Members of St Marks Mothers Un-ion

Peakcare Perry Autos

Pickerings Motors Townsville Pyjama Foundation QCWA Tsv Branch

Qld Dept of Communities, Child Safety & Disability Services

Qld Dept of Housing & Public Works Qld Youth Services

Quota International Red Cross Reef HQ

Relationships Australia Richard Kelly Automotive Ridley Animal Nutrition

Rotary Club of Townsville Sunrise Inc Seaview Hotel

Second Bite Sera’s Women's Shelter

Sharp Solutions Sk8way

Southside Milk Supplies Steve Price

Strand Café, Townsville Airport Sun City Trees

The Alannah and Madeline Founda-tion

The Balcony Restaurant The Townsville Hospital

The Women’s Centre TORGAS

Townsville Aboriginal & Islanders Health Services

Townsville City Council Townsville Fire WNBL Club

Townsville Call Centre, Centrelink Townsville State High School

Townsville Tidy Bags Tropical Ice

Undees for Kids VARIETY—The Children’s Charity

Wellspring Chiropractic Zambrero Stores

Cannon Park Willows Shopping Centre

Castletown Thuringowa

Domain Central Flinders Street

Stockland Centre - Aitkenvale Zonta Club of Townsville Metro Inc.

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