What are they?

Current research shows that children who are "dual-involved" in both child protection and youth justice systems are prone to criminalisation when these systems don’t interact effectively. This system failure is known as systems abuse. Dr Claire Paterson-Smith, Dr Tatiana Corrales, and Dr Patricia McNamara presented their preliminary findings on their important, if troubling, research: The criminalisation of children in care in England/Wales, New South Wales and Victoria. Their research highlights the urgent need for positive systemic change, and what we can do in our day-to-day practice to move us in the right direction.

Proactively investing in strengthening children’s support networks to understand and respond therapeutically to trauma benefits everyone. The need for ineffective and costly crisis responses, such as Alternative Care Arrangements, is preventable. It is imperative that the out-of-home care system adopt a child-centred and evidence-based therapeutic care approach to uphold the rights of children and, in turn, benefit from their strengthened connection to their communities.

This submission to the NSW Advocate for Children and Young People calls for a reconceptualisation of the out-of-home care system to be underpinned by a trauma-informed and child-centred approach to relational stability.

The most difficult aspect of working in residential care is not managing the behavioural challenges of the children and young people, the demanding shifts, or the lack of resources. Rather, it is the surge of feelings that can surface while doing the work. Even calm, caring, and sensitive residential care workers can often be shocked by their own anger and hatred.

In honour of FASD Awareness Month this September, the CETC brought together esteemed thought leaders Dr Julia Shekleton, Prue Walker, and Noel Macnamara to delve into the complex intersection between Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and trauma. This panel discussion explored the ways we can integrate our understanding of FASD and trauma to better support and care for children within the out-of-home care system.

When it comes to working in residential care, organisations often look for workers with qualifications as evidence of theoretical knowledge and "hard skills", despite the clear needs of young people in residential care that require the "soft skills" of empathetic and compassionate communication. Which is more important in this crucial caring role?

Typical childhood fears tend to disappear as children grow older. However, traumatic events that induce fear, such as physical and sexual abuse or exposure to family violence, contribute to lifelong impacts on well-being. What children and young people in the out-of-home care system need most is to be surrounded by a healthy community that can buffer the fear, pain, distress, and loss caused by their earlier-life trauma. What works to heal them is anything that increases the number and quality of a child or young person’s relationships.

Young people experiencing grief may behave in ways that are designed to push carers away, but at these times they need carers more than ever. Carers' sensitive support can assist young people to process grief and establish positive templates of connection and resilience.

This research brief provides an overview of foster carers' learning and support needs in Australia, based on their own perspectives, with highlights from international research and evidence-based foster support programs.

This Pride month, as we celebrate the steps forward for the LGBTQI+ community, it is crucial that we don’t ignore the immense challenges some of the most vulnerable in our community continue to face.

What Terry’s experience and poem tells us is that all young people—especially those in detention with experiences of childhood trauma and violence—have the right to have fun and “just be a kid”.

This policy document calls on the new New South Wales Government to support and implement six fundamental changes to the out-of-home care system.

Stories are a powerful therapeutic tool that can create real change and give children and young people the skills and confidence to make their voices heard in future.

If you’ve ever found a resolution hard to stick to and depressing to fail, remember that young people in out-of-home care have similar experiences with care goals. If you’re working with someone who’s struggling with a care goal, maybe this can help you find something outside the box that would fit their abilities better. A goal that is a trivially easy behavioural direction change rather than a behavioural destination puts less pressure on kids to be “better” and offers an avenue for slower and more permanent progress, with more opportunities to enjoy success.

Christmas is a time of joy and celebration for many Australians, but it can also bring pressure and unrealistic expectations. The shops are decorated, Christmas songs are everywhere, and cheesy ads show happy families celebrating. However, for young people in residential care, these seemingly innocuous things can be a blunt reminder of their own challenging situations and experiences, triggering big emotions and behaviours.

This month, we are thrilled to welcome Billy Black to our team at the CETC as a Care Experience Resource and Training Specialist. Billy has advocated for children and care since she was 15 years old. It was around this time that Billy realised she was a powerful advocate for change – not only in her own life and care experience but at a systems level.

What are care leaver’s experiences of having their own children during transitions from care? In this guest blog, multidisciplinary researcher and practitioner Jade Purtell highlights three core issues that impact how care leavers with children access and receive support.

This research brief examines what we know about sibling placement in Australia and explores findings about ways to support siblings in out-of-home care.

This research brief examines what is known about children in kinship care and identify kinship carers needs and key messages from the research.

This practice guide explores what is meant by the term ‘behaviours that challenge’, why children and young people display behaviours that challenge, the

A practice guide to support carers and professionals working in and around the out-of-home care system to respond to children and young people

Last month, we explored self-care in our regular Community of Practice for therapeutic specialists and others with a therapeutic leadership role in out-of-home care. We know self-care isn’t a one-off action and requires intentionality, planning and consistency to enhance wellbeing.

In late 2020, CETC surveyed 217 Intensive Therapeutic Care staff to evaluate the success and challenges of the ITC system in NSW after its first two years. This is the report on the outcomes of that survey.

This research aims to understand the practices that help young people living in therapeutic residential care to have a positive self-identity and to form strong, healthy relationships.

“The human race has only one really effective weapon and that is laughter.” Mark Twain   We all like to laugh. It makes us feel good. Among humans, laughter begins as early as four months of age (Lovorn, 2008). A child with a well-developed sense of humour has been described as “becoming a joy tracker …

When you think of grief and loss, what comes to your mind?   You may think of the immense sorrow one may experience. For some of us, we can seek solace and take comfort in mourning rituals. Our loved ones may help us come to terms with the loss and find strength to live with …

Many of those of you who know me, know that I have a big interest in sleep hygiene and the children and young people in out of home care (OOHC). To this end I have put together a small package of material that I hope you will take the time to look at and discuss …

This submission addresses the question of whether the age of criminal responsibility (MACR) should be increased and submits that the age should be raised from 10 years old to a minimum of 14 years old in the Australian Capital Territory.

A resource kit to support young people in care at risk of child sexual exploitation.

This research brief explores the importance and strategies for supporting young people’s participation in residential care decision making.

Practice tool to support young people in therapeutic care during COVID-19

This research brief provides an overview of what is known about the experience of young LGBTIQ young people in therapeutic care need and how those working with young people currently residing in and who have experience of care can be best supported.

An introduction to therapeutic care as a preferred response for children and young people who have experienced complex trauma and are unable to live at home.

This guide explores how to create therapeutic care contexts based on considerations about the notion of ‘home’, key features of the physical environment and the core aspects of the social climate which are critical to establishing a home-like environment and a sense of normality for young people in care.

A guide for Therapeutic Specialists and Supervisors who have a role in supporting and developing the practice of staff