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Can AI improve how we care for children and young people?

Anyone working in child protection, youth justice, disability services, or out-of-home care knows the weight of documentation. Whether you’re a case manager, youth worker, behaviour support practitioner, or clinical lead, the reports, assessments, and plans...

Kelly Royds explores how AI offers promising support for professionals in child-facing sectors by easing admin burdens, but its use in client documentation poses serious ethical and privacy risks.

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Empowered Consent: The shift towards affirmative

Over the past few years in Australia, our laws and approach to consent education have evolved. For many of us growing up in the 80’s and 90’s, consent education centred around the word ‘no’ or...

Affirmative consent is key to supporting young people. CETC is excited to launch our new "When Yes Means YES" course to help carers and professionals navigate trauma-informed consent conversations.

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Building digital resilience: a relationship-based approach to online safety in out-of-home care

The internet can be a space for connection, learning, and self-expression—but it is not always safe. For young people in out-of-home care (OOHC), the online world presents both opportunities and significant risks. Many face increased...

Young people in out-of-home care face unique challenges online. The Online Safety Practice Guide equips carers and professionals with practical, relationship-based strategies to foster trust, support digital resilience, and empower young people to navigate the online world with confidence.

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Surviving (and sometimes thriving) as a kinship carer

We never expected to become kinship carers to two grandchildren carrying the weight of past trauma, but life had other plans. If someone had told us years ago that we would be navigating daily conflicts...

Noel takes an honest look at the challenges and rewards of being a kinship carer, exploring the everyday realities of raising children who have experienced trauma. Through the complexities and exhaustion of daily care, the kinship care role can be deeply rewarding, fulfilling, and bring unexpected joys to life.

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Caring for carers: Why foster carer well-being and role satisfaction matter

The experiences that inspired a PhD thesis My career has been full of twists and turns. I studied social work straight out of high school. After securing a placement in child protection during my studies,...

Supporting foster carer well-being is key to a stable and nurturing care system. In this blog, PhD student Amy Miko reflects on the journey that led her to research kinship carer role satisfaction and retention.

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The importance of understanding what drives behaviour

As a kinship carer and a therapeutic specialist, I have found it’s critical to know the difference between top-down and bottom-up behaviours and I think understanding it will help those of you caring for children...

Are you managing top-down behaviours, that are strategic and planned? Or bottom-up behaviours that are instinctual and driven by the brain's lower regions? This blog explores top-down and bottom-up behaviours, and how to match your approach to children's needs.

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Q&A with the Trainer: Harmful sexual behaviours

Young people in out-of-home care and youth justice who have experienced trauma often display a wide range of behaviours that their care team can find difficult to understand and challenging to effectively respond to. Harmful...

In this Q&A with Dan Howell, we explore the myths and realities about harmful sexual behaviours in out-of-home care, and how to approach important conversations about boundaries, consent, and empowering young people to build safe strong relationships.

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Safe and Connected: Supporting online safety for children and young people in care

This practice guide is designed to strengthen the capacity of staff in out-of-home care services to actively support and promote the online safety of children and young people in their care. It aims to empower...

This practice guide is designed to strengthen the capacity of staff in out-of-home care services to actively support and promote the online safety of children and young people in their care.

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Reflecting on the first year as Chair of Out-of-Home Care Research

As the inaugural Chair of Out-of-Home Care Research at Southern Cross University (SCU), co-funded by the Australian Childhood Foundation, I am privileged to reflect on my first year in this transformative role. The position commenced...

This month wraps up the first year of work for our inaugural Chair of Out-of-Home Care Research Lynne McPherson. In this blog, Lynne reflects on the transformative and impactful work of this first year and outlines the ambitious goals for the year to come.

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A care team for every child

Every child and young person in out-of-home care deserves more than just a placement—they deserve a network of dedicated people working together to meet their needs, support their growth, and help them thrive. A care...

A Care Team is more than a meeting, it's an ongoing coordinated approach to unifying a team of important adults to address the unique and complex needs of children and young people in care, building a community of safety and stability around each growing child individually.

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Latest peer-reviewed research

Young people’s lived experience of relational practices in therapeutic residential care in Australiaby Lynne McPherson, Antonia Canosa, Robbie Gilligan, Tim Moore, Kathomi Gatwiri, Kylie Day, Janise Mitchell, Anne Graham and Donnah Anderson. Children and Youth...

A regularly updated list of peer-reviewed research published by CETC researchers and affiliates.

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Not a fan of New Year’s resolutions? Me neither, I’m trying self-care instead

The summer holidays are over, and it’s time to get back into our daily structured routines. For those who look after children and young people in care, the change in the school year can be...

Drawing inspiration from Belinda Lorek's recent workshop on the Self-Care Mind Platter—a concept adapted from the Healthy Mind Platter by Drs David Rock and Dan Siegel—Billy explains why xe's not a fan of New Year's resolutions but loves new year tweaks to self-care for a happier and healthier life around caring responsibilities.

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What Bluey can teach us about feeling valuable

The big wins—like smashing an exam or bringing home a shiny sports trophy—are easy to celebrate. But today, in this brief blog, I want to shine a light on one of the little moments that,...

Inspired by a poignant episode of the children’s show Bluey, this blog reflects on how the little things we do, such as displaying children's art on the fridge, become the evidence of therapeutic PACE care. When we show children that what they create matters, we show them that they themselves matter!

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Making Christmas magical and safe for foster and kinship children

Christmas time can be a whirlwind of joy, excitement, and emotions. However, supporting foster and kinship children during the Christmas period requires thoughtful planning, empathy, and an understanding of the unique challenges they may face. This blog has eight thoughtful tips and creative ideas for providing meaningful support over the holiday season.

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A Traumatised Organisation: The system as a client

The concept of organisations as living systems is not new. Extensive work, particularly in the area of systems thinking, has brought this perspective into the limelight. Out-of-home care (OOHC) organisations are living systems, alive with...

Out-of-home care organisations are living systems, alive with thoughts, feelings, and values. As a living organism, organisations too are vulnerable to the toxic stress of caring for young people who have experienced trauma. Just as young people disengage with caring adults when they don't feel safe, staff become disconnected from "The Management" when they don't feel supported through the stress that comes with caring. Organisational leadership must attune to staff needs to contextualise staff experiences and plan for change that sustains the self-renewing capacities of their organisational system.

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2024: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times

The iconic opening line of Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities perfectly sums up the whirlwind that was this year at CETC: Through the ups and downs of 2024, the CETC team has celebrated...

2024 at CETC was a year of highs and lows, celebrating launches for innovative training, thought-leading panels, and empowering over 2,500 carers and professionals. Yet, it was also a year of profound loss, as we farewelled our visionary CEO, Dr Joe Tucci. His unwavering passion for children’s rights and a safer, kinder world continues to inspire us. Through every challenge, CETC’s commitment to creating meaningful change remains stronger than ever.

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In defence of the humble print photo

In a world dominated by instant, swipeable, and disappearing photos—where Snapchat, TikTok, and digital galleries rule—the humble printed photo may feel a bit “retro.” But during a recent visit to a residential care home, I...

In the age of digital everything, printed photos still hold a unique power—especially for young people in residential care. This blog explores how photo walls and shared snapshots can spark reflection, foster connections, and help young people piece together their stories.

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Preparing for a season of self-care – while caring

As we near the close of 2024, many of us look forward to a break from work or study, while others prepare for the extended school holidays. For children and young people in care, this...

For children and young people in care, the summer break can often bring significant changes - transitioning between schools, year levels, or teachers, and changes to daily routine. In response to children's rising needs, we often find ourselves doubling our efforts to provide care. Although this extra effort is crucially important, taking care of ourselves can quickly fall to the bottom of our priorities.

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Help Way Earlier! The 24 recommendations from the Australian Children’s Commissioner

In August 2024, the Australian Children’s Commissioner released the report ‘Help Way Earlier!’ How Australia can transform child justice to improve the safety and wellbeing of children. The report investigates gaps in, and opportunities for,...

In August 2024, the Australian Children’s Commissioner released the report ‘Help Way Earlier! How Australia can transform child justice to improve the safety and wellbeing of children.’ The report investigates gaps in Australian youth justice systems and opportunities for reform, providing 24 recommendations for a cohesive coordinated response to one of the most urgent human rights issues facing Australia today.

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Attuning to the sensory needs of children and young people in care

The 21st-27th of October is OT Week, honouring the vital role of occupational therapists in improving lives across Australia. This year’s theme, “Celebrating 80 Years of Connection,” highlights how occupational therapy has fostered individual and...

For OT week this year, CETC ran a virtual workshop on attuning to the sensory needs of children and young people in care. Focusing on the power of co-regulation to teach self-regulation, Jenny Gay and Jess Wright were able to breakdown the basics of sensory processing, and how to adapt our care to identify and consistently meet the evolving sensory needs of children through our relationships.

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National, unified approach needed to reform youth justice

The past year has seen alarming regressions across Australia in youth justice policy, with some governments moving towards more punitive measures and stepping back from evidence-based reforms like raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility....

Recent alarming regressions across Australia have moved youth justice policy towards punitive measures and away from evidence-based reforms like raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility. The CETC's response the Senate Inquiry into Australia's Youth Justice and Incarceration System calls for national, enforceable approaches to supporting rehabilitation and well-being for justice-involved young people.

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“You’re not the boss of me!”: 10 positive responses to control-seeking behaviours

Control-seeking behaviours are one of the most common challenges in caring for children and young people impacted by abuse, neglect, and violence. Children and young people will communicate their need for control through their behaviours,...

Control-seeking behaviours can be a common daily experience for carers of children who have experienced trauma. The true challenge for therapeutics carers becomes understanding and addressing the needs that these behaviours communicate. This blog suggests 10 practical strategies to help carers meet the needs underlying children's control-seeking behaviours through connection instead of a power struggle.

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Senate inquiry into Australia’s youth justice and incarceration system

The Centre for Excellence in Therapeutic Care (CETC) has submitted its response to the Senate Inquiry into Australia’s Youth Justice and Incarceration System. This submission highlights the urgent need for a nationally driven therapeutic approach...

This submission highlights the urgent need for a nationally driven therapeutic approach to youth justice through enforceable national minimum standards to address the significant challenges faced by children and young people in youth justice.

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Consent laws for legal change, community for behavioural change

Harmful sexual behaviours displayed throughout childhood development is a serious and complex problem. This issue has sustained increased attention from policymakers following the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. While much of...

Harmful sexual behaviour between young people is a serious and complex issue that requires more than legal change to address. While new affirmative consent laws and education are important steps forward, we need to make an active group effort to share accountability for educating young people on deeper underlying issues, such as gender inequality and respectful relationships, to positively influence community attitudes.

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Interoception: the hidden sense that can help children understand their feelings before they react

You’re probably familiar with the five basic senses: taste, touch, smell, sight, and hearing. But did you know there are three additional ‘hidden’ senses that we use constantly to guide our bodies? These senses –...

You may be familiar with the senses of sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch, but have you heard of interoception? This sense helps children read their own body cues to understand how they are feeling before they react.

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Online gambling harms: Why young people in care need targeted protection

Online gambling is a significant risk for young people, particularly those in out-of-home care. The Australian Government is currently considering its response to the 31 recommendations from the parliamentary inquiry into online gambling harms. Among...

Online gambling poses unique risks to young people in out-of-home care, as they face heightened vulnerability due to trauma, self-regulation challenges, and limited adult support. Despite recent reforms targeting gambling harm, current protections fail to meet the specific needs of this group. This blog highlights why targeted intervention is crucial to safeguard young people in care from the pervasive lure of online gambling.

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The overlooked crisis of FASD hiding in youth justice and out-of-home care

In Australia, children and young people with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in out-of-home care are at critically greater risk of getting involved with the youth justice system. Over time, involvement in out-of-home care and youth justice can create a pattern of criminalisation, that spirals into a cycle of reoffending and deeper involvement with both systems. Breaking the cycle of FASD recriminalisation means providing early diagnosis, support and intervention.

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Grandparent kinship carers: the pleasure, the pain

Today in Australia, the preference for and growth of kinship care has meant that the majority of children in out-of-home care are now placed in relative or kinship care arrangements (Australian Institute of Health and...

Although kinship care now represents the majority of out-of-home care placements in Australia, comparatively little attention has been given to the risk factors and protective factors for grandparent carers experiencing secondary trauma. In this blog, researchers highlight the additional risk of secondary trauma to grandparent carers due to family crises, managing conflicting roles of carer and birth family, and personal connectedness to their grandchildren's experiences.

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Trauma-informed… youth detention? The realities of reform

Last week, CETC facilitated an insightful panel about trauma-informed care and young people in youth detention. CETC welcomed Joanne O’Connor, Associate Professor Tim Moore and Murray Robinson to share their insights, reflections, experience and ideas...

Last week, CETC facilitated an insightful panel about trauma-informed care and young people in youth detention. CETC welcomed Joanna O’Connor, Associate Professor Tim Moore and Murray Robinson to share their insights, reflections, experience and ideas with over 100 sector attendees.

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Amplifying Aboriginal voices in out-of-home care through research and co-design

As I approach seven years in the out-of-home care (OOHC) sector, my journey has taken me from studying Early Childhood and Primary Teaching, to pursuing Criminal Justice, and eventually earning a Master of Child and...

Motivated by the frustrations of seeing Aboriginal children disconnected from their culture over seven years in the OOHC sector, Bradley Burns’ research focuses on elevating the voices of Aboriginal young people through a co-design approach. By integrating these voices into service delivery, he aims to create a more effective and culturally respectful OOHC system. His work critically examines existing practices, like Cultural Support Plans, emphasising the need for genuine collaboration and culturally grounded solutions.

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10 tips for talking consent with kids in care

Children and young people in out-of-home care often have limited experience of healthy and respectful relationships, which can make understanding affirmative consent and relationship boundaries challenging. This blog offers ten practical tips for talking about consent and sexual health in a trauma-informed way with children and young people in care.

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Too exhausted and overwhelmed for self-care

Working with trauma-impacted children and young people can be exhausting and overwhelming. This feeling is often compounded by not having the resources to help these children and young people in the ways we know they...

With the exhaustion and overwhelm that comes with looking after trauma-impacted children and young people, self-care can often feel out of reach. In this blog, we look at five practical self-care strategies tailored to those feeling drained: prioritising sleep, focusing on what can be influenced, adopting resilience slogans, acknowledging that it's okay not to be okay, and identifying strategies that fit who we are. These suggestions emphasise the need to take small, manageable steps to care for ourselves, so that we are able to care for our children and young people.

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Research findings – Phase 1: Policy Analysis

Phase 1: Policy Analysis This document presents an overview of the findings from Phase 1 of the Strengthening Relationships and Connections in Therapeutic Residential Care project. This phase focused on analysing current policies to understand...

This document presents an overview of the findings from Phase 1 of the Strengthening Relationships and Connections in Therapeutic Residential Care project. This phase focused on analysing current policies to understand how they shape relational practices within therapeutic residential care settings.

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And the recommendations are… systemic reform towards providing therapeutic care, again

The Australian Institute of Family Studies recently released a report titled Improving the Safety and Wellbeing of Vulnerable Children: A Consolidation of Systemic Recommendations and Evidence. This report summarises recommendations from 61 reports and inquiries between 2010 and 2022, highlighting consistent themes linked to the importance of holistic therapeutic care for children and young people.

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Consent conversations with young people in out-of-home care

Having meaningful conversations with children and young people in out-of-home care about consent, while critically important, can be tricky. These consent conversations need to keep both young people and carers or professionals safe across discussing...

Having meaningful conversations about consent can be tricky. Understanding consent is built on understanding relationships, safety, and social skills. For this reason, many young people in out-of-home care need regular broader discussions about healthy relationships and boundaries that evolve with the young person's development.

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Professor Lynne McPherson appointed as Chair of Out-of-Home Care

We are excited to announce Professor Lynne McPherson‘s appointment as Chair of Out-of-Home Care Research. This Chair role, the first of its kind in Australia, is a joint position funded through the Australian Childhood Foundation...

We are excited to announce Professor Lynne McPherson's appointment as Chair of Out-of-Home Care Research. This Chair role, the first of its kind in Australia, is a joint position to generate important research outcomes that inform the efforts of the Centre for Excellence in Therapeutic Care, leading the way in progressing knowledge about "what works" in out-of-home care.

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On-Demand: What we’ve learnt delivering trauma training to carers online

Over the past 18 months, we have been asking ourselves how online training can help meet the knowledge and support needs of foster and kinship carers. What are the benefits and challenges of on-demand learning,...

How can online training help meet the knowledge and support needs of foster and kinship carers? What are the benefits and challenges of on-demand learning, and how can learning online support carers in accessing authentic and helpful knowledge about how trauma impacts the children in their care? Here's what we've learnt from our own students about the importance of practical, accessible, and inclusive online training.

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Supporting Aboriginal young people in justice and care – Rhett’s story

A few years ago, I met Rhett when he was collaborating with the Advocate for Children and Young People on a report about experiences of Aboriginal children and young people in NSW. By then, Rhett...

Discover Rhett’s journey as an advocate for Aboriginal youth in NSW, blending personal experience with professional insight. Named NSW/ACT Young Achiever of the Year in 2015, Rhett emphasizes cultural identity and healing in youth justice, education, and health. Explore his reflections on ancestral traditions, family stories, and the role of cultural safety in supporting young people.

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Holding on by a thread – Connecting with adolescents in a culture of disconnection

Recently I listened to the Brené Brown podcast Unlocking Us episode from 20th March 2024, where she spoke with Esther Perel on the new “AI” – Artificial Intimacy. There were so many ‘aha’ moments and...

Inspired by the Brené Brown podcast Unlocking Us, the topic of "artificial intimacy" can help us consider how connected we really are with the children and young people in our care. What is deep safety for young people, but a sense of strong connection through joint attention? How do we strengthen our connection to children who are holding on by a thread?

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“I’m not a Barbie girl”: Spatial design reform in residential care

The Create Voices in Action conference was held in Adelaide in March 2024. Three compelling voices at the conference belonged to Professor Suzie Attiwill and Create Consultants Hayley and Ella. The research team presented findings...

A project aimed to identify and advocate for easy and cost-effective adjustments to immediately transform a residential care environment was presented at the Create Voices in Action conference in Adelaide. The project found several simple low-cost ideas and strategies to improve the environment and young people’s satisfaction, belonging, sense of safety, and well-being.

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The essential role of collaboration in clinical assessments for young people experiencing complex trauma

As a clinician supporting young people who engage in harmful sexual behaviour, I have the privilege of travelling across the northern region of Victoria and engaging with many residential workers. In the realm of addressing...

Jane Harding highlights the often-overlooked perspectives of carers and emphasises the need for collaboration between clinicians and carers in clinical assessments. Learn how integrating carers' insights leads to more accurate assessments and effective interventions, ultimately fostering resilient outcomes for vulnerable youth

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When systems designed to protect do harm

What comes to mind when you think about the child protection or youth justice system? Protection and safeguarding? Rehabilitation? Trauma-informed care? These two complex and often interacting systems are intended to keep children, young people,...

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.

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Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility – alternative diversion model

The focus of this submission The Australian Childhood Foundation and Centre for Excellence in Therapeutic Care (CETC) are dedicated to upholding the rights of children and helping them to heal from trauma. This is joint...

This joint submission underscores the significant challenges that children and young people in contact with the youth justice system face, particularly those who are also involved in the out-of-home care system and those under the age of 12.

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The effective and efficient approach to preventing placement breakdowns

For children with complex trauma, the out-of-home care sector is more often reactive rather than proactive or preventative. Not many programs exist to provide significant early intervention support, as opposed to waiting for a crisis...

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.

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Submission to the NSW Advocate for Children and Young People: Special Inquiry: Children and Young People in Alternative Care Arrangements (ACAs)

Alternative Care Arrangements are the symptom of a care system in crisis ACAs have no place in a modern trauma-informed and child-centred out-of-home care system. The retention of foster carers is a major challenge facing...

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.

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The most difficult thing about residential care work

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.

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Untangling the challenges of FASD and trauma

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.

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Hard vs soft skills: which are more important in residential care work?

Not everyone is suited to being a therapeutic residential worker. Working in therapeutic care requires special skills and qualities, some that can be taught or mentored, and others that are part of the individual worker’s...

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?

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The role fear plays in the lives of children and young people in out-of-home care

Fear is a fundamental human emotion triggered by a perceived threat. It serves as a basic survival mechanism that signals our bodies to respond to danger with a fight, flight, or freeze response. As such,...

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.

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Thirteen coping strategies that caregivers can use to support young people through their grief process

Being in out-of-home care (OOHC) often means loss: loss of parents, siblings, extended family, pets, home, school, and friends. Grief is a normal and healthy response to loss. Children can experience grief and loss from...

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.

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What do foster carers tell us about their support needs? – Research brief

Foster carers are a crucial human resource in responding to children and young people who have experienced abuse, neglect, and trauma. The design and implementation of foster care programs varies across Australia and internationally. However,...

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.

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Pride month: Challenges for LGBTQI+ children and young people in care

This blog article was written by Tayla Howard (she/her), Team Leader of Therapeutic Services and OurSPACE NSW at Australian Childhood Foundation. June is recognised as Pride Month, a time of celebration and commemoration of the...

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.

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Let’s Talk About the Summer Holiday – a poem about detention

“Let’s talk about the summer holiday, even though I’m in detention in was still fun aye. Because it was so hot, there was no time to use the indoor gym for a shot and I...

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”.

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Agenda for Change: Ensuring a safe and supportive out-of-home care system for children and young people in New South Wales

A system in crisis: A call for transformation The out-of-home care system in New South Wales (NSW) should be a safe haven for children, young people and families. It is a system in crisis. Children,...

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.

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The therapeutic power of imaginary storytelling

World Care Day is a global event held on the third Friday of February every year to celebrate the voices of children and young people with a care experience. The theme this year is “don’t judge...

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.

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New years’ resolutions and other goals for teens in care

When I was a teen in care, I found the (well-intentioned) focus on my progress from case workers and other adults exhausting. If I tried hard, I made “progress”, but then those goal behaviours became...

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.

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Christmas in residential care: It doesn’t need to be the most wonderful time of the year

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.

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“Powerful children who can control their worlds are happier, secure children,” Q&A with Billy Black

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 in care since she was 15 years...

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.

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Trauma, loss and parenting – care leavers’ experiences of having their own children during transitions from care

This post is written by Jade Purtell, a multidisciplinary researcher and practitioner focused on out-of-home care and transitions from care experiences and policy. This research is funded by an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship....

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.

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Sibling placement in out-of-home care – Research brief

The significance of sibling relationships for children and young people in out-of-home care is well documented by national and international scholars (Luu, Conley Wright, & Cashmore, 2020). These relationships offer an opportunity for children to...

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.

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Understanding the needs of kinship carers in Australia – Research brief

Kinship care placements in Australia are now more prevalent than foster care. They are the fastest growing form of out-of-home care in this country (AIHW, 2021). On 30 June 2019, 93% of Australian children in...

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

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Responding to behaviours that challenge – practice guide

Much has been written about understanding and managing the challenging pain-based behaviours of children and young people who have experienced trauma and live in therapeutic or out of home care. Anglin (2002) coined the phrase...

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

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Responding to children and young people living in out-of-home care who engage in harmful sexual behaviour – Practice guide

This practice guide aims to support carers and professionals working in and around the out of home care system to know how to best understand their role when responding to children and young people who...

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

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How to develop your own self-care protocol

When someone says ‘self-care’, what image comes to mind? What are the positive and negative aspects of this image? Do you have clear intentions for self-care and your self-care protocol? Last month, we explored self-care...

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.

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Pulse check survey

The ITC Pulse Check Survey and Outcome Report provides a point-in-time reflection on the experiences of the reform process by ITC agency staff. To this end, the survey results clearly show that the process of...

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.

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Strengthening connections & relationships project

What is this research about? Young people in residential care face major challenges that can prevent them from forming healthy relationships and a strong personal identity, which are critical building blocks for their wellbeing and...

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.

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The therapeutic power of laughter

“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...

“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 …

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Supporting children in out-of-home care to cope with ambiguous loss

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...

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 …

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Children, young people and sleep

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...

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 …

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Minimum age of criminal responsibility in the ACT

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...

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.

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Safe Connections – A resource kit to support young people in care at risk of child sexual exploitation – Practice guide

The Safe Connections resource kit has been designed for use with young people at risk of or experiencing child sexual exploitation in care. Child sexual exploitation is a form of sexual abuse that can have...

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

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Enabling young people’s participation in residential care decision-making – Research brief

The literature on how young people participate in decision-making in residential care identifies three main aspects of participation: being able to access information to take part in decisions that matter; having opportunities and capabilities to...

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

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Tips for supporting young people in therapeutic care through COVID-19 – Practice tool

This resource was developed to provide a range of tips and insights on supporting young people during the COVID pandemic. It covers a range orf areas across Realstionships and staying connected, pre planning and predictability,...

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

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The needs of LGBTIQ young people in out-of-home care – Research brief

Young people who are same sex attracted, trans or gender diverse – a population who will be referred to in this document as LGBTIQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer/ questioning) except in particular...

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.

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What is effective therapeutic care? Research brief

This research briefing is 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. Whilst therapeutic care programs have...

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.

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Creating positive social climates and home-like environments in therapeutic care – Practice guide

This guide has been developed to support the implementation of Essential Element: Physical Environments from the Ten Essential Elements of Therapeutic Care. It explores how to create therapeutic care contexts based on considerations about the...

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.

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A model for coaching staff in Intensive Therapeutic Care: A guide for therapeutic specialists and supervisors – Practice guide

This guide has been developed for use by Therapeutic Specialists and Supervisors who have a role in supporting and developing the practice of staff. It covers the critical elements of effective approaches to coaching in...

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

training opportunities

On-demand

Foundational Training in Intensive Therapeutic Care – Group Bookings

Cost

Learn more

Face-to-face

2025 CETC Customised Face-to-Face Training

Date Cost

January 01, 2099

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Virtual workshop

2025 CETC Customised Online Training

Date Cost

January 01, 2099

Learn more

For this collection

resources

What are the 10 essential elements of the Intensive Therapeutic Care System in NSW?

Concepts of ‘complexity’ and ‘evidence’ are often heard in discussions that seek to find ways to better meet the needs of traumatised young people requiring more intensive forms of care. Debates about ‘evidence-based’ versus ‘evidence-informed’ practice have emerged in policy and practice debates as everyone struggles to find ‘what works’. Similarly, debates about locally developed …

An emerging paradigm – Welcome to our new therapeutic care blog

Over the past two decades, the term therapeutic care has emerged as a new paradigm used to integrate constructs that had traditionally been considered separate – therapeutic processes and the care of young people, many of whom have experienced significant trauma and present with a range of complex needs and challenging behaviours. National and international …

Putting theory into practice

Sometimes you might wonder why you need to learn about theory. I have heard people say: “caring for kids in residential care is common sense” “theory is OK for academic’s but not for the everyday work of residential care” Residential work with young people is often conducted amidst high anxiety, uncertainty and emotion. Within …

The role of emotions in therapeutic care

The role of emotions within human service work may at first glance appear to be intuitively obvious and incontestable. Indeed, Howe (2008) described the day of a human service worker as ‘suffused with emotional content’. The role of emotions is at the core of literature regarding relationship-based practice and the separation of feelings from professionalism …

WATCH NOW

videos

Learning from Lived Experience What do young people say needs to change in therapeutic residential care?

Panel discussion – Trauma-Informed Care in Youth Detention

What is a residential care worker?

What do you think is the role of “reflective practice”?

What do you enjoy about working with young people?

What does cultural safety mean to you?

Supporting Aboriginal children and young people in custodial and residential care settings – Rhett’s story

How do you support young people in connecting to culture?

How do you plan for a young person’s transition into and leaving your service?

How do you help young people feel safe in the residential home?

Can you share an example of changes you have witnessed in young people after time being supported in residential care?

A “day in your life” as a residential care worker

The Criminalisation of Children in Care in England/Wales, New South Wales, and Victoria

About us

Why is reflection important for trauma-informed work?

Why did you become a therapeutic specialist?

What would you tell others thinking about becoming a therapeutic specialist?

What changes have you seen in the young people you work with?

What are the best parts of being a therapeutic specialist?

What are the challenges of being a therapeutic specialist?

How does the exposure to trauma impact on staff?

What is the role of relationship in therapeutic care?

What is an average day for a therapeutic specialist?

What is a therapeutic specialist?

Welcome to responding to child sexual exploitation

Safe Connections: How to use the resource kit

contribute

If you have publications, resources, opprtunities or events to promote, please forward them to contribute@cetc.org.au
Preferred format is a very brief outline ( maximum 4 lines ) and a link to further information.

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collection of

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training opportunities

Type of training

Subject

Find now

resources

What are the 10 essential elements of the Intensive Therapeutic Care System in NSW?

An emerging paradigm – Welcome to our new therapeutic care blog

Putting theory into practice

The role of emotions in therapeutic care

Show more

videos

Learning from Lived Experience What do young people say needs to change in therapeutic residential care?

Panel discussion – Trauma-Informed Care in Youth Detention

What is a residential care worker?

What do you think is the role of “reflective practice”?

What do you enjoy about working with young people?

What does cultural safety mean to you?

Supporting Aboriginal children and young people in custodial and residential care settings – Rhett’s story

How do you support young people in connecting to culture?

How do you plan for a young person’s transition into and leaving your service?

How do you help young people feel safe in the residential home?

Can you share an example of changes you have witnessed in young people after time being supported in residential care?

A “day in your life” as a residential care worker

The Criminalisation of Children in Care in England/Wales, New South Wales, and Victoria

About us

Why is reflection important for trauma-informed work?

Why did you become a therapeutic specialist?

What would you tell others thinking about becoming a therapeutic specialist?

What changes have you seen in the young people you work with?

What are the best parts of being a therapeutic specialist?

What are the challenges of being a therapeutic specialist?

How does the exposure to trauma impact on staff?

What is the role of relationship in therapeutic care?

What is an average day for a therapeutic specialist?

What is a therapeutic specialist?

Welcome to responding to child sexual exploitation

Safe Connections: How to use the resource kit

contribute

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