fkca

Have you considered joining our Board?

hello@simplepages.com.au (Eva Pettifor) — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 02:46:49 GMT

We currently have three vacate board positions available at Foster & Kinship Carers Association NT. The board needs to consist of six (6) Registered Carer Members and four (4) Invited Persons. Ideally, we are looking for three Registered Carer Members to reach our board requirements, however we would encourage all interested parties to apply. Each board member holds a position for two years, with half the board being up for nomination each year to allow for continuity and transfer of corporate knowledge.

Board responsibilities:

Working closely with our CEO, the Board is responsible to:

· Set the organisation’s strategic direction with clear goals and objectives

· Ensure policies and procedures are in place for effective governance and risk management

· Provide adequate resources for growth and sustainability

· Bring ideas to help shape the future of our organisation

As an inclusive organisation, we value and support diversity and welcome people from all backgrounds and actively encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to apply to ensure voices from across the Territory are represented.

Our Board Members are volunteers who support our organisation with their skills, services and expertise. Each are required to attend a minimum of 4 board meetings per year, this can be in-person or via Zoom. These meetings are an important forum to discuss our strategic direction and plan for our organisation’s future.

For further information, please contact our CEO, Amanda Thompson on 1300 352 268

Timelines for arranging travel with DCF

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 23:29:08 GMT

Planning a trip with a child in care?

A friendly reminder that if you are planning to travel interstate or international for the holidays we strongly recommend submitting your travel requests to Department of Children and Families as soon as possible to prevent any delays.

This can be a lengthy process so it is important to plan well in advance.

Holiday Planning And Approval

For Travel within the Northern Territory (Not Via Plane)

Provide 7 days notice prior to travel
Notify DCF of travel plans (consent is not required for outings for up to four nights but you must notify your DCF case manager, via text or email with brief description of travel plans)
Apply for travel approval if travelling longer than four nights or plane travel is required

For Travel within the Northern Territory (Via Plane Only)

Provide 7 days notice prior to travel
Approval is required for all Air Travels in the Northern Territory
Obtain a travel quote
Arrange suitable travel insurance (if required)
Notify DCF of travel plans and provide travel itinerary
Approach DCF for travel consent; make sure to enclose all supporting documents (if the CEO holds Parental Responsibility, parental consent from biological parents is advisable but not mandatory)

For Interstate Travel

Approval is required 8 weeks notice prior to travel
Obtain a travel quote
Arrange suitable travel insurance (CIC name required on policy)
Notify DCF of travel plans and provide travel itinerary
Approach DCF for travel consent; make sure to enclose all supporting documents (if the CEO holds Parental Responsibility, parental consent from biological parents is advisable but not mandatory)

For International Travel

Approval is required 3 months notice prior to travel
Obtain a travel quote
Complete a travel itinerary
Arrange suitable travel insurance
Approach DCF for travel consent; make sure to enclose all supporting documents (if the CEO holds Parental Responsibility, parental consent from biological parents is advisable but not mandatory)

General Guidelines:

If financial assistance is required, submit financial request to DCF and obtain approval before booking travel. This is considered on a case by case basis.
DCF requires that carer's plan at least 8 weeks in advance for interstate travel and three months for international journeys.
FKCANT recommends gaining approval from DCF as soon as travel plans are known or 6 months in advance.

Please refer to the Travel for Children in Care Policy for further details. If you have any questions, please reach out to us here on 1300 352 268.

Foster and Kinship Carers NT Online Training with Phoenix Support

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 04:40:36 GMT

Exclusive online training package for remote and regional carers

The Foster and Kinship Carers Association NT (FKCANT) has partnered with Phoenix Support to bring an exclusive online training package for our incredible foster and kinship carers in the regional and remote areas of the Northern Territory.

We recognise the unique challenges you face in balancing your own wellbeing while supporting and mentoring the children in your care, especially in remote locations with limited access to resources. To assist, we are offering 22 committed carers the chance to access and participate in this valuable training.

About the Training

This training is designed to empower you with practical tools and strategies to support both yourself and the child in your care.

�� The Educator Toolkit for Behaviour – A comprehensive guide with practical strategies to better understand and respond to children's behaviour.

�� The 28-Day Wellbeing Challenge – A step-by-step program designed to enhance personal wellbeing and resilience.

All content is delivered 100% online, allowing you to fit into your schedule! This includes on-screen readings, downloadable worksheets, PDF posters, and videos.

The selected modules ensure that carers are well-equipped to provide the best possible care.

Who can join?

There are 22 licenses reserved for carers who meet the following criteria:

✔ Based in regional or remote NT

✔ Have access to the internet

✔ Be a registered volunteer foster or kinship carer with the Department of Children and Families

✔ Be a member of Foster and Kinship Carers Association NT

How to register

If you meet the eligibility criteria, please secure your spot by registering via TryBooking: www.trybooking.com/CZTPK

Once registered, a member of our team will review and confirm your eligibility within two business days .

Need More Information?

For any questions, view our Frequently Asked Questions below or contact your CASO at 1300 352 268 .

Frequently Asked Questions

2025 with Foster and Kinship Carers Association NT

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 05:01:34 GMT

Share this online:

As we enter 2025, we are filled with renewed energy and optimism for the year ahead. Our commitment to supporting carers and improving outcomes for children in care remains stronger than ever. We are eager to build upon our achievements and create even more meaningful impacts in our community.

This year promises to be dynamic and engaging, with a full calendar of events and training opportunities designed to support and strengthen our carer community. From celebratory gatherings like Mother's Day and Father's Day to our regular Carer Connection events and informative morning teas, we create spaces for connection, learning, and mutual support. Our comprehensive training program, which includes essential first aid, cultural awareness, trauma and brain development and e-safety, demonstrates our commitment to equipping carers with the necessary skills and knowledge to support the children in their care.

Stay connected! If you haven’t already, follow us on Facebook and Instagram to be the first to hear about exciting events and activities coming your way. Be sure to check out our website for the latest updates, and keep an eye on your inbox for emails and ENews—there’s always something great to discover!

With our expanding team and improved support services, we are excited to offer even greater assistance. Our organisation now includes more CASO Officers, enhanced administrative support, and a one-year pilot program for our dedicated Carer Assessment team. Our goal is to provide you with the best possible support and to increase the number of foster and kinship carers so that we can support more children.

We deeply value the strength of our community, and we sincerely thank all individuals, carers, and stakeholders who have supported us in our shared vision for 2024. We look forward to continuing this journey together in 2025, aiming to make it a year of growth, achievement, and positive change for children and families across the Northern Territory.

FKCANT is here to support you every step of the way. Whether you need advice, assistance resolving matters with Department of Children and Families (DCF), access to training, or opportunities to connect with other carers, our experienced team is ready to help. Engage with us today and be part of a strong, empowered care community!

Christmas Shutdown

hello@simplepages.com.au (Eva Pettifor) — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 23:32:55 GMT

Closed from 25 December and re-opening 2 January

As the holiday season approaches, we want to take a moment to say thank you for your unwavering dedication and support this past year. Your commitment means so much to us and to the children you care for.

The Foster and Kinship Carers Association NT will be taking a short break for the holidays, with our office closed from December 25 and reopening on January 2. We hope you can also take this time to rest and enjoy a peaceful holiday surrounded by loved ones.

While our office will be closed, we understand that needs may arise. Here are a few helpful contacts for support during the holiday period:

First point of contact is your DCF Case Manager
Urgent matters for children in your care - Central Intake: 1800 700 250
Emergency or life-threatening situations: 000
Urgent enquiries - FKCANT: 1300 352 268

Additionally, if you need further assistance, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) offices will be available:

Alice Springs: 08 8955 6001
Arafura: 08 8922 8474
Arnhem: 08 8987 0400
Barkly: 08 8962 4334
Casuarina: 08 8999 8814
Katherine: 08 8973 8600
Palmerston: 08 8922 7111

We hope this holiday season brings you all the warmth, joy, and memorable moments you deserve. Thank you again for being part of this community and for all that you do.

Best regards,
Foster and Kinship Carers Association NT Incorporated

New Training Alert: Phoenix Cups

hello@simplepages.com.au (Eva Pettifor) — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 05:36:23 GMT

30 September | 9am to 3pm | FKCANT Office

As carers, you give so much of yourselves to support the children in your care. But we, your carer support, know you can't pour from an empty cup. That's why we've brought you this particular training session with Sandy Phoenix from Phoenix Cups. This session is designed to help you recognise and address your needs and understand, plan, and meet the needs of the children you support.

Using the Phoenix Cups framework, you'll learn how to identify unmet needs—yours and the child's—and discover effective strategies to address these needs through learned behaviours. This approach aims to enhance both your wellbeing and the wellbeing of the children in your care, creating a more balanced and nurturing environment for everyone involved.

Join us for the following:

You can’t pour from an Empty Cup

Sandy will introduce you to a holistic framework and a shared language about basic human life needs, motivation, wellbeing, and behaviour. In this foundational session, you'll explore the evolution of psychological approaches to human behaviour and wellbeing. We will explore how our basic human needs influence our motivations and actions. This understanding will be the stepping stone for developing your personal wellbeing plan, laying the groundwork for carer wellbeing.

Educator/Parent Toolkit for Behaviour

Learn new ways of thinking about, responding to, and planning for children's behaviour.

We recommend that carers attend the entire session as the foundational understanding session one sets the stage for the following workshop that delves deeper into the motivations behind children's behaviours and their correlation with unmet needs. By the end of this course - you'll be better prepared to support the children in your care with empathy and understanding.

To attend on the day, we recommend to RSVP by 20 September using the event link here.

This training is offered to registered volunteer Territory Families Housing and Community Volunteer Carers and FKCANT members.

Join in on Pyjama Day

hello@simplepages.com.au (Eva Pettifor) — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 02:25:10 GMT

Join in on Pyjama Day this July 19!

Foster and Kinship Carers Association NT are hosting a Pyjama Day fundraising initiative this July 19 to raise funds for The Pyjama Foundation ! Slip into your favourite pyjamas and help us make a difference in the lives of children in foster care.

This year, we're aiming to raise $500 to support The Pyjama Foundation as part of National Pyjama Day. Your donations will provide essential resources and support to ensure that children in foster care receive the care and opportunities they deserve. Every dollar raised will contribute to making a meaningful impact in their lives.

How you can participate:

Donate to support the vital work of The Pyjama Foundation by making a direct donation here https://fundraise.thepyjamafoundation.com/fundraisers/FosterandKinshipCarersAssociationNT/npd
Wear Your Comfiest PJs on July 19 to show your support!
Take a Selfie in your pyjamas, tag @thePyjamaFoundation and @FKCANT, and use the hashtags #InMyPJs and #FKCANTpyjamaday2024 on social media.

Lucky number board competition:

Try your luck and purchase a number for $3 to enter the draw to win $100!
Pick a number from 1-100.
Purchase your chosen number by donating $3 per number. Comment on our Pyjama Day post on social media or send us a direct message with your number and confirmation of donation.
Enter the draw to win $100!

Note: Participation in the Lucky Number Board is optional and not required to donate.

Let's come together to support a great cause and make this Pyjama Day unforgettable. Join us, spread the word, and help us reach our $500 goal.

Thank you for your support! ❤️

#FKCANTpyjamaday2024 #SupportCarers #Fundraiser #FosterCare #KinshipCare #NationalPyjamaDay #ThePyjamaFoundation #FosterandKinshipCarersAssociationNT

Mothers Day Luncheon

hello@simplepages.com.au (Eva Pettifor) — Mon, 20 May 2024 04:04:25 GMT

Foster and Kinship Carers Association NT invites all amazing mums to an exclusive Mother's Day celebration on Friday, 10 May 2024, from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm at Silks Darwin – Private Function Room, Buntine Rd, Fannie Bay NT 0820.

The event is a perfect way to celebrate Mother's Day with blooming flowers, delicious food, and fun brain-teasing trivia. Upon arrival, guests will be greeted with beautiful blooms and a beverage.

The event will include a beautiful platter lunch featuring a curated selection of culinary delights expertly prepared by Silks Darwin. Guests will also engage in some friendly competition with a captivating trivia session designed to test their general knowledge and share heartwarming facts about motherhood. Prizes will be awarded to the winning teams, and guests can join in on the day and meet new mums!

This is an excellent opportunity to connect with fellow mothers in an atmosphere of warmth and camaraderie, foster new friendships, and celebrate the shared journey of motherhood.

The RSVP date is Tuesday, 7 May 2024.

FKCANT Carer Members are FREE to attend, and non-members are welcome to attend for a small fee of $20. To book tickets, please visit the Mother's Day Event Page.

For more information about the event, please contact Rebecca at 1300 352 268 or email media@fkca.org.au .

The Last Daughter Screening, Director Q&A and Book Signing

hello@simplepages.com.au (Eva Pettifor) — Mon, 20 May 2024 04:00:53 GMT

Multi Award-Winning Director Brenda Matthews, proud Wiradjuri woman, Brings Her Powerful Story to Darwin. Join Foster and Kinship Carers Association NT (FKCANT) and Brenda for a special screening & a reflective discussion on her documentary "The Last Daughter”.

Multi-award-winning director, author, and speaker, Brenda Matthews, is set to captivate audiences in Darwin. Foster and Kinship Carers Association NT in partnership with our sponsor Charles Darwin University invites the community to a special screening, book signing and reflective discussion on Brenda’s documentary, "The Last Daughter."

Brenda is renowned for her documentary and literary work, "The Last Daughter." This narrative chronicles her personal journey within the child protection system, her experiences of being placed under the care of loving white foster parents, and her eventual reunification with her biological kin. Decades later, she embarked on a quest to locate her former foster family and discover where she truly belongs.

"The Last Daughter," allows audiences to see through the lens of an Aboriginal woman with her feet in two worlds; connected to both Black and White Australia. It’s a powerful and personal story of reconciliation, healing, and the importance of maintaining connection to both worlds. We hope this will start conversations and inspire the nation.

We feel privileged to welcome Brenda Matthews as our guest and to share her moving story with our community," expressed Amanda Thompson, CEO of Foster and Kinship Carers Association NT. "In 'The Last Daughter,' Brenda's account provides a deep understanding of the journey through grief and loss, exploring themes of attachment, connection, belonging, and identity from the unique perspectives of child in care, foster parents, and biological kin."

This acclaimed documentary, recipient of the Social Justice Award 2024, Winner of Best Documentary at the Adelaide Film Festival 2022 and the Best Australian Film at Gold Coast Film Festival 2023. It is nominated for Best Documentary in this year’s prestigious Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Awards (AACTA) and was nominated for Best Director in a Debut Feature Film at the Australian Directors Guild (ADG) Awards 2023. The documentary has gained global acclaim and international recognition awarded the ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) of Santa Barbara Tri-Countries Stand Up Award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in February 2024.

FKCANT is the peak body for foster and kinship carers across the Northern Territory, providing recruitment, support, training, and advocacy services. As the peak body, we represent the voices of foster and kinship carers. We ensure those voices are heard by government and other decision-makers so that carers are supported as they take on one of the most challenging and rewarding roles in our community. It is our role to make sure the out-of-home care sector supports carers and children through their journey together. We assist foster and kinship carers to transform children’s lives, and we work with the wider sector to develop and share best practice. As the peak body, we work to ensure all children and young people in the out-of-home care sector have a positive experience within a loving, nurturing, and stable family. We know and respect the difference this will make to their lives. We seek to create vital change so that the foster care sector in the Northern Territory is the very best it can be.

FKCANT are hosting the event at Charles Darwin University, Mal Nairn Auditorium. The event will take place from 8:45 am to 1:00 pm on Friday April 12 and Saturday 13 April 2024.

Tickets are available to the public, starting at $25 for general admission, $15 for CDU staff and students, and concession holders, and free admission to Territory Families, Housing and Communities (TFHC) volunteer foster and kinship carers. Tickets can be purchased through https://www.trybooking.com/CPPMQ or FKCANT website www.fkca.org.au/events-and-training.

For media inquiries or interview requests with Brenda Matthews, please contact Rebecca Webber at Foster and Kinship Carers Association NT Incorporated on 1300 352 268 or at media@fkca.org.au .

NOFASD Australia Launches Free FASD Online Support Group for Carers

hello@simplepages.com.au (Eva Pettifor) — Mon, 20 May 2024 03:56:15 GMT

NOFASD Australia, a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing and supporting individuals affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), has launched the FASD Support Group. The support group is designed to provide vital support and resources for carers of individuals with diagnosed or unconfirmed FASD.

This free online Support Group is set to start on Wednesday , 28th February , offering a unique opportunity for carers to connect, learn, and share experiences.

According to NOFASD Australia, FASD is a permanent condition that can occur when a developing fetus is exposed to alcohol during pregnancy. Individuals with FASD may experience difficulties in areas such as learning, communication, social skills, and behaviour. Caring for individuals with FASD can be challenging and often requires specialised knowledge and skills.

The FASD Support Group comprises seven weekly sessions, each professionally facilitated by individuals with lived experience of FASD. This initiative aims to empower carers by enhancing their knowledge of FASD, offering practical strategies for daily life, and fostering a supportive community for mutual understanding and collaboration.

During the sessions, carers will have the opportunity to connect with others in similar situations, share their experiences, and learn from each other, leading to improved outcomes for both carers and those they care for.

Early registration is advised due to the limited availability of spaces. If you are interested in joining the FASD Support Group, please register by visiting https://www.nofasd.org.au/contact-us/ or call NOFASD’s Helpline: 1 800 860 613 to secure your spot.

Children with disabilities

hello@simplepages.com.au (Eva Pettifor) — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 00:21:28 GMT

In Australia, 7.6% of all children aged 0-14 have some sort of disability, with intellectual and developmental disabilities being the most common. An intellectual impacts children’s ability to learn knowledge and skills, is generally measured by IQ and can be mild to profound. Developmental disabilities can be physical or mental including things like autism. Children with intellectual and developmental disabilities are a particularly vulnerable group with greater caregiving needs. Unfortunately, they are also at an increased risk of experiencing maltreatment. Consequently, many children with intellectual and developmental disabilities are placed into foster/kinship care.

Children with disabilities are overrepresented in out-of-home care. Currently there are just over 46,200 children in out-of-home care in Australia. However, the disability status is only known for 63% (~29,100) of these children and of these about 30% (>8,730) are reported as having some sort of disability. This means there is a significant number foster and kinship carers providing care to children with disabilities in Australia.

Recently, my colleagues and I went to the research literature in order to get a better understanding of what we know about children with intellectual and developmental disabilities in out-of-home care. Our paper can be accessed here https://www.hindawi.com/journals/hsc/2023/2422367/

What we found was very sad;

Children with intellectual and developmental disabilities in out-of-home care are an understudied population. In truth, there is very little research regarding their experiences or needs.
Children with intellectual and developmental disabilities have increased needs and when their families are not well supported, they may experience maltreatment and require foster/kinship care.
There is a lot of research which suggests that foster/kinship carers are not supported in their caregiving role. Not surprisingly, when foster/kinship carers are not well supported when caring for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, placements breakdown. This means there is a large number of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities living in residential care.
Foster/kinship carers are not always given accurate information regarding the health and/or disability status of children prior to the children’s placement. This can result in multiple placements for children.

Like all children, those with intellectual and developmental disabilities need safe, loving homes. Unfortunately, they are most at risk of not achieving this in their own families and after placement into foster/kinship care. There is a clear need to better support families of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities in order to prevent maltreatment and placement into care. There is also an urgent need to better support carers of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. By supporting carers, children have more stable homes and better outcomes (not to mention, happier and healthier carers).

If you care providing care to children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, here are a few strategies to help you in your caregiving role:

Look after yourself. Self-care is not an option; it should be a priority! Remember, it is not only the child(ren) in care, but the rest of the household who is impacted when the primary caregiver is feeling weary. Caring for yourself will enable you to provide the best quality care and feel the most satisfaction in your caregiving role.
Ask for help. Don’t assume the agency/department will say ‘no’ and if they do, ask again. Reach out to the Foster and Kinship Carers Association for support and advice, they may be able to refer you to services.
Educate yourself. Learn as much as you can about the children’s disabilities and the services available to them. Also learn all you can about the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) as this can support you and the children. For example, it may fund regularly occupational therapy sessions for the children, which gives you a free hour for a quiet cuppa and some ‘me time’.
Look for ways to have your voice heard. It should be noted that we found NO research related to the experiences of foster/kinship carers who provide care to children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We are now planning a program of research that will explore carers experiences. We hope to get a better understanding of both the challenges and rewards associated with providing care to these children so that we can help develop models of support.

Remember, some days are easier than others, but every day is worth it. Try to remember to focus on the children, not their disabilities. They need fun, love and safety just like any other child.

This article was written and authorised for use by our guest blogger Dr Stacy Blythe - Foster carer and Associate Professor, School of Nursing and Midwifery at Western Sydney University.

Communication is important in all families

hello@simplepages.com.au (Eva Pettifor) — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 04:19:16 GMT

Every family is unique. Some families are loud and boisterous, with everyone fighting to get a word in edgewise, while others are more private and reserved. Every family has its own way of communicating, and that communication style is an integral part of building healthy relationships, as well as individual self-esteem. Effective communication within a family can strengthen relationships in good times and repair relationships in trying times.

Communication can be defined as a way to share information, ideas and emotions between people. Communication requires a minimum of two people; someone to send a message, and someone to receive it. Communication is considered effective when the messages sent, verbally and/or non-verbally, are received and correctly interpreted. Our ability to effectively send, receive and interpret messages begins developing from birth. For example, at one-month-old an infant can notice and perceive facial features, and by three months of age can discriminate between smiles and frowns (1). Our relational experiences during these early exchanges influence our neurological development. According to the Harvard Center on the Developing Child, when an infant sends a message, such as babbling or crying, and an adult responds appropriately, with eye contact or cuddles, healthy neurological connections are built within the brain. Repeated, appropriate exchanges strengthen the infant’s neurological connections.

When children do not experience appropriate, responsive relationships early in life, their ability to effectively communicate can be significantly compromised. Generally, our ability to send, receive and interpret messages begins within our family context. The way we communicate within our families can influence all of our relationships and the way we interact with the outside world.

Many children who enter the foster care system have difficulty expressing themselves, the messages they send do not always clearly convey their intended meaning. Similarly, these children may also struggle to receive and accurately interpret messages. Effectively communicating with these children can be challenging but is extremely important as it can help facilitate healing, develop attachment and create a sense of belonging. In fact, recent research that suggests that children who feel able to share their feelings with their families are more likely to develop resilience (2).

Developing effective communication within foster families can be particularly challenging as some children may have had little opportunity to develop healthy communication skills while others may have learned unhealthy communication skills.

1 – Understand that many children have not learned healthy communication from a very early age. Research has demonstrated that the experience of maltreatment can alter children’s interpretation of facial expressions (3). This can cause them to react defensively to a neutral face as though it was angry, with observers thinking the child is over-reacting. For example, I’ve seen a young person snap “What?” when they walked into a room where someone turned to look at them. Helping children to learn to recognise and interpret facial expressions correctly can help to reduce this misinterpretation. This can be achieved using facial expression flash cards which can be ordered online or making a game out of pulling faces at one another, there are many examples of such games on YouTube

2 – Be present when communicating and be an active listener. There are so many distractions for families these days. Schedules are busy, technology can be interfering, and the need to multi-task can often distract parents when children are trying to communicate. Make an effort to give your children your undivided attention when they are communicating with you. Once the children are finished talking, practice paraphrasing what said and repeat it back to ensure you have understood, this will help avoid miscommunication and help the children feel valued.

3 – Create opportunities to practice communication. Family meals are a wonderful opportunity to for adults to model and children to practice communication skills. Scheduling these regularly can contribute to a sense of safety and stability. Planning activities to guide the conversation during meals can also make them fun, and facilitate attachment. ‘Would you rather’ is an easy conversational game that offers children a choice between two things. For example; “Would you rather be a chicken or a rabbit?” Once the children make a choice, encourage them to provide a reason. This provides interesting insights to individual children and can often result in lots of laughs! There are many sample questions available online or you can make your own up.

4 – Attack the problem, not each other. No family is perfect, disagreements happen from time to time. The way you communicate with your spouse, your own parents and siblings as well as other children in the house will be scrutinised by children, particularly when there are disagreements. Ensure you model discussions that focus on the problem, not the people involved. For example,

5 – Model good communication both inside and outside the family. Whether it be a school teacher, a health care professional, the children’s social worker, an employee at the local grocery store, or another driver on the road, be mindful that the children in your care are watching how you interact with others. When possible, use these interactions as a source of reflection with older children, pointing out what components are good and/or poor communication and brainstorming ways to improve future interactions. If you are the one who is not being a good communicator, own up to it. For example, if you are preoccupied with your smart phone when a child is telling you about their day, stop and acknowledge it. Tell the child, “I’m sorry. I was supposed to be listening to you, but I let myself get distracted and I wasn’t paying attention. Please, try again and tell me about your day, because I really do want to listen.”

Developing good communication within families can take time, but is worth the effort. Families with healthy communication develop trust and form strong connections with one another. This creates an atmosphere of safety and a sense of security, which makes all members of the family feel valued and loved.

(1) Sauter, D. A. (2017). The nonverbal communication of positive emotions: An emotion family approach. Emotion Review, 9(3), 222-234.

(2) Bethell, C., Jones, J., Gombojav, N., Linkenbach, J., & Sege, R. (2019). Positive childhood experiences and adult mental and relational health in a statewide sample: Associations across adverse childhood experiences levels. JAMA pediatrics, 173(11), e193007-e193007.

(3) Pfaltz, M. C., Passardi, S., Auschra, B., Fares-Otero, N. E., Schnyder, U., & Peyk, P. (2019). Are you angry at me? Negative interpretations of neutral facial expressions are linked to child maltreatment but not to posttraumatic stress disorder. European journal of psychotraumatology, 10(1), 1682929.

This article was written and authorised for use by our guest blogger Dr Stacy Blythe and originally appeared in Foster Families Today

Applications for NAPCAN’s Youth Advisory Council now open

hello@simplepages.com.au (Eva Pettifor) — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 02:39:42 GMT

Opportunity

The National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) is seeking a diverse and passionate group of young people aged between 13-25 to represent the voices and opinions of young people across Australia and help influence projects within NAPCAN.

What’s the Objective?

NAPCAN strongly values the voices of youth and is inspired by the opportunities, ideas, and solutions that young people have to offer. This Youth Advisory Council aims to create positive and lasting change by valuing the opinions of young people. The Council will contribute to current and future projects. This means having the Council help in the development of key projects through planning, design, and purpose. NAPCAN has many programs for students and the community that are constantly being updated. Content analysis, review and feedback will also be a part of the Youth Council. It is important to us at NAPCAN to have your opinion included in these changes. Most importantly, we hope to achieve a sense of belonging and community amongst the Youth Advisory Council, and spark conversation and ideas.

For information or to apply visit NAPCAN's website

Welcome - Olive Editing

hello@simplepages.com.au (Eva Pettifor) — Tue, 26 Jul 2022 05:14:39 GMT

Foster & Kinship Carers NT welcomes Bailey Tambling from Olive Editing , who has joined us as the board’s secretariat support. She assists the board with document preparation, minute-taking at board meetings and editing or proofreading tasks where needed.

Bailey is from a long line of Territorians, from World War II education pioneers to parliamentarians, and she’s excited to be helping our NT organisation.

Bailey’s assistance with the board means we can focus on our decision-making and continue to move forward without the hold-ups of paperwork and note-taking.

Bailey’s business, Olive Editing , provides editing, proofreading and transcription services for government agencies, small businesses, individuals and not-for-profit organisations around the NT and Australia.

Bailey believes in the benefits of improving life outcomes for vulnerable people. Working with FKCANT and meeting some of the foster carers who contribute to these outcomes has only strengthened her belief in systems that are working for the betterment of our future Territorians.

Online safety resources for carers and children

hello@simplepages.com.au (Eva Pettifor) — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 23:57:01 GMT

ACWA is pleased to announce the completion of its national project – funded by an online safety grant from the eSafety Commissioner – to co-design and develop resources aimed at raising awareness of online safety among children and young people in care and their caregivers.
The resources include a series of short videos for children and young people in out-of-home-care, as well as fact sheets and an online training course for caregivers. They are now available on the ACWA website , and are ready for hosting, and distribution/sharing.

The direct involvement of children and carers in the content development and creative design process means the advice provided is both real and relevant. We are thankful to SNAICC, the national non-government peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children, for leading the development of the videos created for Aboriginal children and young people. ACWA is also grateful to the CREATE Foundation, its partner peaks across the country, and its member agencies for actively supporting this project and helping us to bring together a substantial number of children and young people and carers — more than 300 overall — to contribute to the co-design and development of the resources.

As part of the project, ACWA are seeking feedback on the videos and the online course from children and young people in care, carers, and workers in the OOHC sector.

Feedback helps ACWA understand what works and what doesn't work for resources like this.

Conference Registration - Super Sale Friday!

hello@simplepages.com.au (Eva Pettifor) — Mon, 23 May 2022 01:40:22 GMT

Grab your conference registration this Friday 27 May 2022

Celebrating the upcoming the Foster and Kinship Carers Conference with special co-host, International Foster Care Organisation, here in Darwin we will be offering a super saving on the price of our three day registration ticket price.

With the use of our special discount code the price will be reduced from $350.00 down to $200.00!

Please note that this is a one day only sale and the discount code will only be live on Friday 27 May 2022. .

This is a great opportunity for foster and kinship carers across Australia to attend the national conference, share their stories, participate in workshops and hear from renowned international speakers. It is an amazing opportunity to have the international conference in Australia combined with our National conference.

We are looking forward to catching up with our sector colleagues and showcasing the invaluable contribution of carers who support children and young people by opening their hearts and their homes everyday.

Click on the button below to purchase your tickets

Caring for substance exposed kids

hello@simplepages.com.au (Eva Pettifor) — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 00:38:36 GMT

Substance abuse is a huge problem in Australia. The most recent United Nations Report on Drugs indicates 269 million people use drugs each year. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) many pregnant women in Australia use substances which are harmful to their unborn children during pregnancy. AIHW reports 10% of women smoke, 35% drink alcohol, 2.3% use illicit drugs, and 1.9% use prescription painkillers for non-medical purposes during pregnancy. Pregnant women in remote and very remote areas, and those living in greater socioeconomic disadvantage are more likely to use substances compare others.

There are currently over 46,000 children and young people in out-of-home care in Australia. Parental substance use commonly contributes to the constellation of reasons for a child’s removal from parental care as it is a key risk factor for child abuse and neglect. In 2019 the AIHW reported nearly 15% of parents in Australia used illicit substances. A growing body of research insists that parental substance misuse has the potential to negatively impact on virtually every aspect of a child’s health and development, from conception onwards.

For many years it was thought that the placenta worked as a filter and protected unborn babies from harmful substances. We now know that the placenta does not offer the sort of protection we once thought (or hoped). The full impact of infant exposure to harmful substances is not known, however, many short and long term implications have been identified. This article will discuss the potential short and long term effects of prenatal substance exposure, as well as provide strategies to manage these effects.

Babies who are exposed to addictive substances before birth often experience withdrawal after birth. During this time babies may experience a range of symptoms that require hospitalisation for supportive treatment. These symptoms may include; tremors, seizures, hyperactive reflexes, restlessness, poor feeding, breathing difficulties, sweating, vomiting, and loose or watery stools and a very distinctive high-pitched cry. Withdrawing babies are easily startled and struggle to self soothe. Many substance exposed babies are born premature and undernourished and require invasive therapies such as mechanical ventilation or feeding via a nasogastric tube to support their growth and development during withdrawal.

Withdrawal from addictive substances is an extremely uncomfortable experience. What’s more, many of the symptoms (eg. tremors) cause the baby to expend large amounts of energy. This increased energy consumption is problematic given most substance exposed babies are born undernourished and experience feeding difficulties. When symptoms are deemed severe, the decision may be made to medicate in order to decrease discomfort and demand on the baby’s body. The amount of medication the baby is given slowly decreases as the symptoms of withdrawal subside and the baby grows. Sometimes babies are discharged from hospital still receiving medication. When this occurs, it is very important to follow the instructions provided by the health professionals in order to ensure the baby is properly medicated.

Irritability during withdrawal and the period thereafter is a common complaint from nurses, parents and carers. Strategies proven to comfort the irritable baby are simple and easy to apply. Reducing excess stimulation, like light and noise, is very effective in helping to soothe an easily startled baby. The use of ‘white noise’ or soft music can help to block out regular household noises, such as other children. Swaddling is an age-old practice that not only helps the baby to feel safe and secure, but also protects him from his own startle reflex. Although historically controversial, research has now demonstrated dummy’s are not only effective in providing comfort, but also help ease pain. In fact, dummy’s used at bedtime are associated with a lower risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).

Possibly the most important and most effective strategy for soothing an irritable substance exposed baby is skin-to-skin contact. In the conventional context, skin-to-skin care is where a new born baby is placed on the biological mother’s bare chest. In foster care, skin-to-skin contact is modified to facilitate the baby’s contact with the carer. Ideally, the baby’s cheek lays on the foster carers upper chest (eg. By wearing a scoop neck t-shirt). This allows the baby to hear your heartbeat, smell your sent, and feel your warmth. Skin-to-skin contact has been found to improve feeding difficulties, reduce pain and promote brain development! So snuggle up!

It’s important to remember that not all babies who are exposed to substances during pregnancy will go through withdrawal. For example, while a baby that is exposed to heroin will likely withdrawal and be quite irritable (particularly if their mother was using close to the time of birth) a baby who was exposed to methamphetamine (AKA Ice) is likely to be very quiet and withdrawn. These quiet babies are often referred to as “perfect babies” as they self-soothe from the start. However, this is not actually a good thing. Babies need stimulation and interaction for their brains to develop in a healthy fashion. Don’t be lured into thinking that quiet babies don’t have issues which need addressed.

After withdrawal, some babies will grow and develop without any obvious long-term consequences of their prenatal substance exposure. However, many babies will experience physical, cognitive, and behavioural difficulties throughout childhood and adolescence. Understanding these difficulties are a direct result of their prenatal substance exposure can help foster carers to support children and adolescents struggling with these issues.

Many substance exposed children are born, and remain, small in size and stature compared to other children. This can have significant negative implications during adolescent years in terms of self-image and self-esteem. Good-intentioned comments about future growth spurts can serve to promote false hope and generate disappointment. Helping children to embrace and value themselves for who they are, not how they look, is paramount!

Fine and gross motor development delays are not uncommon amongst children and young people with a history of substance exposure. It is very important that foster carers are knowledgeable of “normal” developmental milestones (for example; when should a baby first roll over? Or what is the “normal” age to begin walking?). The earlier a delay is identified, the sooner supportive intervention can be accessed. Assistance from a physiotherapist or occupational therapist may be helpful for children who are not meeting their milestones in a timely fashion.

Substance exposure has been found to influence cognitive functioning. Most often it is the child’s executive functioning that is altered. Executive functioning is responsible for three main cognitive features; impulse control, working memory and mental flexibility. Alterations to these three capacities generally present as poor behaviour and often seems to develop ‘out of the blue’. Seeking the assistance of a child psychologist to identify strategies to assist individual children to improve their executive functioning may be helpful.

Children with poor impulse control struggle to follow the rules. They need continual encouragement and regular reinforcement of good behaviour. Poor impulse control is one of the reasons children with a history of substance exposure are more likely to use substance or engage in early sexual contact. Strategies to minimise temptation and distraction will help protect young people from long-term consequences of poor impulse control.

A poor working memory often leaves children lost when given a list of instructions. This becomes increasingly obvious in the classroom as children progress through the school system. Strategies to support these children include; providing one instruction at a time and the use of picture cards (for children who do not yet read) or written instruction so that children can revisit the instruction as needed.

Mental flexibility is the ability to adapt to change. Many children with a history of substance exposure thrive on routine. Predictability provides comfort and minimises anxiety. Consistency is key in caring for these children. Understanding the importance of routine can help foster carers to support children who may struggle with change. It’s important to take the time to talk about change, before it occurs (if possible) as well as after. Helping children to reflect on occasions they managed small change will go a long way to building resilience and helping them to manage larger change in the future.

This article has offered some insight into the effects of prenatal substance exposure. Caring for children and young people with a history of substance exposure is both challenging and rewarding. Every child is unique and requires individualised care. As your child’s foster carer, you are best suited to identify the needs of your child and seek out assistance to achieve optimal outcomes.

This article was written and authorised for use by our guest blogger Dr Stacy Blythe - Foster carer and Senior Lecturer in the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Western Sydney University.

Join our Board

hello@simplepages.com.au (Eva Pettifor) — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 06:40:16 GMT

Join Our Board of Directors

Make a meaningful impact on the lives of children, young people, and the carers who support them. Bring your skills and lived experience to a committed, collaborative board working to strengthen foster and kinship care across the Northern Territory. Together, we can shape a stronger, more supportive future for families and our community. Each Board member holds their position for a period of two years, with half of the Board being up for nomination each year to allow for continuity and transfer of corporate knowledge.

Board Responsibilities

Working closely with our CEO, the Board is responsible to:

• Set the organisation’s strategic direction with clear goals and objectives

• Ensure policies and procedures are in place for effective governance and risk management

• Provide adequate resources for growth and sustainability

• Bring ideas to help shape the future of our organisation

Our Board Members are volunteers who support our organisation with their skills, services and expertise. Reimbursements are provided for reasonable travel and other expenses incurred through their work for Foster & Kinship Carers Association NT. They are required to attend a minimum of 4 board meetings each year.

Each nominee must be willing to obtain a National Police Clearance and Working With Children’s Clearance (Ochre Card) and provide a recent colour digital image of yourself (head and shoulder - max size 500KB) as part of your nomination.

For further information, please contact our CEO, Amanda Thompson on 1300 352 268.

Nomination Form - Registered Carer Member

Nomination Form - Invited Person