Centre for Excellence in Therapeutic Care

We were delighted to be invited to share the latest insights on normative sexual development for young people with the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia yesterday afternoon! "Understanding what's typical is essential for supporting parents concerned about behaviours displayed by their children," says Daniel Howell, CETC's Senior Manager of Training, "It's encouraging to see the Federal Circuit and Family Court recognising the importance of knowing what is developmentally appropriate as they work with children and families."

Explore Bradley Burns' blog on amplifying Aboriginal voices in out-of-home care, where he shares insights from his research and co-design work. Learn how these perspectives are shaping better outcomes, and don’t miss his upcoming virtual workshop on 21 November to dive deeper into supporting Aboriginal young people in care. https://lnkd.in/g5cdVptN

What an inspiring OT Week! The theme of OT Week this year was "Celebrating 80 years of Connection,” highlighting how occupational therapy fosters individual and community connections – a crucial foundation for children in care. Last week, CETC ran a virtual workshop with Jenny Gay and Jessica Wright on attuning to the sensory needs of children and young people in care. Focusing on the power of co-regulation to teach self-regulation, we broke down the basics of sensory processing and using our relationships to identify and consistently meet the evolving sensory needs of children with complex needs. Full article: https://lnkd.in/gaUWxvcs

Youth justice policy should be based on evidence, not politics! Recent alarming regressions across Australia have moved youth justice policy towards punitive measures, away from evidence-based reforms, such as 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. https://lnkd.in/gfZr5xvW

Harmful sexual behaviour between young people is a serious and complex issue that requires more than legal change to address. In our latest blog, Daniel Howell reflects on new affirmative consent laws and consent education as important first steps to promoting shared accountability to educating young people on deeper underlying issues, such as gender inequality and respectful relationships, to positively influence community attitudes. For training on understanding and supporting young people who exhibit harmful sexual behaviour, join us on November 12 for Dan’s online workshop The S-Word: Exploring sexual behaviour, what is normal, and what is harmful. https://lnkd.in/gS5EQ6m6

Control-seeking behaviours are one of the most common challenges in caring for children and young people impacted by abuse, neglect, and violence. In our new blog we delve into how children and young people will communicate their need for control through their behaviours, how to identify the underlying needs behind these control-seeking behaviours, and ways to respond. Follow us & sign up to our newsletter for more out-of-home care resources and insights. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gfzG3sj4

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.

With kinship care now making up over half of all Australian care placements, the need for specialised support and training for kinship carers has never been more urgent. Our new self-paced online training is designed to strengthen carers’ understanding of trauma-informed care, offering practical strategies to respond to trauma-based behaviours.   Built on the belief that everyday people with extraordinary hearts can profoundly impact the lives of children who have experienced trauma, the course features relatable videos from both carers and experts, interactive activities, and real-world strategies.   Hear from Noel Macnamara as he introduces the course and its modules.   Carers share their experiences:   "I couldn’t understand why the kids behaved the way they did. Now I have a clearer understanding of how their minds work, the reasons behind the behaviour, and how to support them."   "Watching videos of other carers and their experiences was so beneficial. It made me realise I’m not alone, and my thoughts and feelings are common. It also gave me hope that things can improve."   Sign up now and enjoy a 50% discount for the first 50 registrants! Use code KINSHIP24 at booking. https://lnkd.in/ghikU8qp

Traditional behavior management can overlook a child’s trauma, development, mood, and motivation. Managing trauma-based behaviors needs a thoughtful, understanding approach. Six key strategies include: understanding the behavior's meaning, adapting the environment, linking feelings, promoting calm, supporting pro-social behaviors, and de-escalating. Our "Ordinary People, Extraordinary Hearts" program offers tailored, on-demand training for foster carers, focusing on these compassionate strategies. Learn more and register here: https://lnkd.in/gnJgGJ_K

"Online games often include loot boxes or other chance-based rewards, which can condition children to gambling-like habits from a young age." 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. In this blog, Janise Mitchell and Kelly Royds highlight why targeted intervention is crucial to safeguard young people in care from the pervasive lure of online gambling.