Foster Care Association of Victoria

Your wellbeing matters.

The Carer Assistance Program (CAP) offers free short-term counselling to Victorian Foster Carers, Permanent Carers, and Adoptive Parents.

Through CAP, carers can access individual, couple and group counselling support across a range of issues impacting mental health and wellbeing, both related and unrelated to their caring role.

📞 03 9416 4292
🌐 fcav.org.au/cap

FCAV Carer Census 2024

We are pleased to share the FCAV Carer Census Report based on carer's experiences arising from open-ended responses to the 2024 FCAV Carer Census.

Along with demographic and attitudinal statistics, the open ended sections gave carers the opportunity to put their own words to aspects of their caring experiences. These responses are an insight into the positive and challenging aspects of caring for children and young people within the home-based care services sector in Victoria.

Read the full FCAV Carer Census Report here:https://www.fcav.org.au/assets/census-report-2024-(6).pdf

The FCAV is pleased to present full findings of the FCAV Carer Census 2024, including themes arising from carers statements.
Carers' motivations are strongly derived from their role in the lives of children and young people in their care. The challenges faced by carers, supported by the data, are articulated within this report and show clear areas of focus to improve the carer experience.

Release of the FCAV Carer Census Report 2024 The FCAV is pleased to present the findings from the 2024 carer census survey and Census Report including themes arising from carers open-ended responses. Thank you to every member who took the time to participate by completing the survey. Over 750 respondents participated in the census. This excell...

🎉Congratulations to all the awardees at tonight’s 2024 Victorian Protecting Children Awards. These individuals, teams and groups have been recognised for the meaningful impact they have on the lives of children, young people and families across Victoria.

👏 Special congratulations to all the carer finalists:

Meaghan Lewin
Emilie and Laurent Michaille
Kelly van den Meiracker

Edward and Te Tapu Tapara
Jessica and Danni Brennan
Kate Gathercole

And the winners of the carer awards tonight:

🏆 Foster Care Award - Meaghan Lewin

🏆 Kinship Care Award - Edward and Te Tapu Tapara

You can read the extraordinary stories of each award winner and their achievements by visiting the Victorian Protecting Children Awards website www.dffh.vic.gov.au/victorian-protecting-children-awards.

This we stand with V***A - Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency and the call to increase the care allowance applied to all children and young people in care in Victoria. Find out more and join the campaign: https://bit.ly/43IfBbJ

Our kinship carers play a vital role in ensuring the ongoing connection to community and culture which is central to the safety, stability and development of Aboriginal children.

Currently, kinship carers are disproportionately impacted by the Care Allowance payment structure. 96% of kinship carers are on the lowest level of care allowance, compared to 32% of foster carers. This disparity effectively works to entrench disadvantage for Aboriginal children in care.

Join us to call on the government to increase the Care Allowance and ensure kinship carers are provided with the support they need.

Find out more and sign the petition here: https://bit.ly/43IfBbJ

🏆 FCAV's Commitment to Carers Awards 🏆

These awards provide foster carers the opportunity to acknowledge the agency workers who have offered committed support and to show how much that support means to them in caring for children and young people.

We heard directly from foster carers how their agency workers have gone above and beyond in supporting them. These moments of outstanding support are golden—they can truly make or break a positive placement experience.

We are pleased to announce the finalists for 2024!

🌟 Stacey Brown - MacKillop Family Services
🌟 Ari-Elle Dart - Meli
🌟 Teagan Dunn - V***A - Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency
🌟 Teah Edelmair - Anchor Community Care Ltd.
🌟 Carolyn Morton - MacKillop Family Services
🌟 Christine Stinean - Anglicare Victoria

Congratulations to the finalists, your ongoing commitment to supporting carers is invaluable! And THANK YOU to all the foster carers who shared their stories and nominated a worker who made a positive impact in their carer journey.

We look forward to announcing the final awardees at the FCAV AGM & Carer Celebration during

FCAV CEO, Samantha Hauge is looking forward to joining Mallee Family Care carers and staff for this spectacular event in Mildura, celebrating carers role in 's futures for the children and young in their care.
Find out about all the events taking place for Foster Care Week here: https://www.fcav.org.au/news/foster-care-week-calendar-2024

Mallee Family Care Caring for people since 1979.

Self-care isn't selfish. It's essential.

The Foster Care Week theme for 2024 is ‘Today’s carers, Tomorrow’s future’
highlighting the invaluable role foster carers play in setting the foundation for positive futures for children and young people in care.

We hope all carers can make it to their agency's event to celebrate your invaluable role and the difference you make in the lives of the children and young people in your care.

Check out the events calendar: https://bit.ly/4e0cxwH

National Child Protection Week: 1-7 September 2024

In 2024, the National Child Protection Week message that ‘Every child in every community needs a fair go’ will be complemented with the theme ‘Every conversation matters’.

Conversations are essential to keeping our children and young people safe and thriving. Whether it’s:

👶 Caregivers talking with their little ones from the very earliest days
👫 Children connecting with their peers
🏫 Families engaging with teachers, doctors, and professionals
🤝 Friends and neighbours supporting one another
🏛️ Decision-makers listening to the communities they serve

Every conversation helps us understand, solve problems, value community wisdom, and strengthen the minds and social bonds of our children.

This National Child Protection Week, let’s all speak up—and speak together—about what needs to change so every child in every community gets a fair go.

Your voice matters. Let’s make it count!

Today, we stand with LGBTQIA+ youth to celebrate diversity, inclusion, and the freedom to be yourself. Let's wear purple with pride and show our support for a world where every young person feels safe, supported, and loved for who they are.

𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐧
A young person in care in Victoria is funded $120 less a week towards their needs, than a child in Canberra.
$120 is the difference between owning a mobile phone for social and family connection, dentist visits, tutoring, therapy sessions, sports, birthday gifts and more... Children and young people in care in Victoria have been disadvantaged enough.

We call on the Government to increase the care allowance to meet parity with other states. State comparisons: https://www.fcav.org.au/news/victoria-has-the-lowest-care-allowance-rate-in-the-country

More information and to sign the petition here: https://www.fcav.org.au/news/petition-to-increase-the-care-allowance

Permanent Care and Adoptive Families Lizzie Blandthorn Tim Pallas V***A - Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency Jacinta Allan

Foster Care Week is fast approaching and we're so excited to share the growing calendar of carer appreciation events taking place around the state!

We hope all carers can make it to their agency's event to celebrate your invaluable role and the difference you make in the lives of the children and young people in your care.

Check out the events calendar: https://bit.ly/4e0cxwH

Agencies can lodge their events here: https://bit.ly/4dHqksg

Learn more about the Nutrition for Wellbeing in times of rising food costs seminars offered by Carer Kafe - Kinship, Permanent & Foster Care Education below

Carer Kafe is delivering a series of Diet and Nutrition seminars for carers - back by popular demand! Take part in a workshop held across various locations around Victoria led by clinical nutritionist/ functional medicine practitioner Nikki Valentini. She will host a Q&A to learn how to shop, prepare food and eat well on a finite budget.

For more information and to register visit: https://2023.carerkafe.org.au/training

Foster Care Week is fast approaching and we're so excited to share the growing calendar of carer appreciation events taking place around the state!
We hope all carers can make it to their agency's event to celebrate your invaluable role and the difference you make in the lives of the children and young people in your care.
Check out the events calendar: https://www.fcav.org.au/news/foster-care-week-calendar-2024
Agencies can lodge their events here: https://fcav.formstack.com/forms/foster_care_week_event_form_2024

𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐧

A young person in care in Victoria is funded $120 less a week towards their needs, than a child in Canberra.
$120 is the difference between owning a mobile phone for social and family connection, dentist visits, tutoring, therapy sessions, sports, birthday gifts and more... Children and young people in care in Victoria have been disadvantaged enough.

We call on the Government to increase the care allowance to meet parity with other states.
https://www.fcav.org.au/news/victoria-has-the-lowest-care-allowance-rate-in-the-country
More information and to sign the petition here:
https://www.fcav.org.au/news/petition-to-increase-the-care-allowance
V***A - Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency Permanent Care and Adoptive Families Lizzie Blandthorn Tim Pallas Jacinta Allan

Thank you to the all the carers who submitted a nomination, sharing instances of great support they have received from workers who have supported them in their caring role.

The FCAV Carer Support Team will be reading each nomination and selecting the shortlist very soon.

Nominations closing today!!

Instances of great foster carer support by workers and staff at Agency, ACCO and Department level are golden in a complex system. They can make or break a positive placement for foster carers and the children and young people in their homes. Therefore, these awards give foster carers the opportunity to acknowledge an instance of receiving great support.

Submissions will be selected by our Care Advocates based on exemplary support to carers' day to day, or, exceptional support in exceptional circumstances.

Submissions close today 20th August 2024.

All nominating foster carers will go into the draw and be randomly selected to win one of three $50 vouchers just for making a nomination. Worker award winners will be announced at the FCAV AGM on 13th September 2024.

Submit your Nomination here: https://bit.ly/4fpzyL2

Attend an online live webinar on Emotional Intelligence and the Importance of Emotion Coaching Kids in Care

Attend an online live webinar on Emotional Intelligence and the Importance of Emotion Coaching Kids in Care presented by Joanie Bartolo from Emotion Wise discussing:

- A brief introduction to the key principles from Tuning in to Kids® and Tuning in to Teens®
- a focus on the emotional connection between carers and children
- skills in emotion coaching including recognising, understanding and responding to children’s emotions in an accepting, supportive way

Date: Thursday 29 August
Time: 10.00am -12.30pm
Location: Online via ZOOM

To register visit: https://2023.carerkafe.org.au/training/event/983-session-1-emotional-intelligence-and-the-importance-of-emotion-coaching-kids-in-care

Too right V***A - Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency

Victorian carers receive the lowest rate of Care Allowance in Australia, forcing many of our carers to access emergency support just to cover the basics.

Our kinship and foster carers deserve a Care Allowance that supports them to cover the cost-of-living expenses of children in their care.

As the peak voice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Victoria, V***A provides Foster Care and Kinship Care programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in out-of-home care. We believe it is essential that carers are provided with adequate financial support to provide this vital care.

Join us to call on the government to increase the Care Allowance.

Find out more and sign the petition here: https://bit.ly/43IfBbJ

As an FCAV member foster carers have access to free advocacy, support & information. Your membership is instrumental to our strength, ensuring a better Victorian system for our carers, children and young people.

Membership is free! Join today at fcav.org.au/membership/join

Is your child with developmental delay or disability starting Prep in 2025? 🤗

Join Association for Children with Disability - ACD for a FREE online workshop, Starting Prep.
ACD’s professional facilitators will guide you through understanding the language schools use, planning for your child starting Prep, building positive partnerships, transition planning with kindergarten and school and how school can support your child.
Place are limited so register now 👇
https://bit.ly/SPsept24

𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐧
Join over 2,700 signatories and the growing number of large sector agencies and ACCOs calling on the Victorian Government to increase the care allowance. Victoria has the lowest care allowance rate in the country. It hasn't been increased nor indexed appropriately to the CPI, since 2016.
More information and to sign the petition here: https://www.fcav.org.au/news/petition-to-increase-the-care-allowance
See attrition of carers in Victoria compared to other jurisdictions: https://www.fcav.org.au/news/victorian-carer-households
Permanent Care and Adoptive Families Lizzie Blandthorn ***A - Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency

The FCAV Carer Support Team provides Foster Carers with:

● Provision of accurate and clear information via consultation - phone, email and in person, training, newsletters and information sheets

● Referrals to appropriate agencies for specialised and targeted support and assistance

● Phone conversations, one on one meetings and (occasional) attendance at meetings for support

● Advocacy with CSOs and Government on themes and serious issues affecting carers, children and young people in home based care

📞 (03) 9416 4292 or follow the link below for more information: https://www.fcav.org.au

𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙧 𝙀𝙭𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙢𝙚

On 1 July 2024, as part of the commencement of the Social Services Regulator, a new Worker and Carer Exclusion Scheme (WCES), which applies to all foster carers, also commenced. The WCES replaces the previous Victorian Carer Register which listed all accredited carers.

The WCES now requires that carers who are excluded from caring must be registered.

Workers and carers covered by the WCES include foster carers and workers or carers providing services to children in residential out-of-home care services. Kinship carers and permanent carers are not covered by the WCES.

The Social Services Regulator will maintain a database for the WCES which will include all carers who were disqualified from being listed on the Victorian Carer Register before 1 July 2024.

Service providers are responsible for requesting database checks for all prospective workers and carers. Workers and carers who are under investigation or have been excluded under the WCES must disclose this information to their employers.

Further information about the WCES can be found at

The Worker and Carer Exclusion Scheme The Worker and Carer Exclusion Scheme is designed to address risks posed by individual workers and carers that require additional interventions

To Our Valued Carers,

Thank you to everyone who attended the 2024 National Carer Conference. Your presence and participation made the event truly special, and we hope you found the sessions insightful and valuable.

For those who were unable to attend, we missed you, but we want you to know that your dedication to caring is deeply appreciated. The conference covered a range of important topics that resonate deeply with the experiences of many carers, and we welcome you to attend similar events in future.

We understand that some of the discussions and presentations may have brought up strong emotions or difficult memories. Please know that you don’t have to navigate these feelings alone. The Carer Assistance Program (CAP) is here to support you in navigating these challenges.

If you would like to talk to someone, you can reach out for support via our online referral form, or call us directly on 9416 4292. We are here to listen, support, and assist you in any way we can.
Please find our online referral link here: https://fcav.formstack.com/forms/carer_assistance_program_referral_form

Thank you for all that you do.

Warm regards,
Jake Iaria and Tonya Bavaro
Carer Assistance Program (CAP)

Pictured: Jo Farrelly - Loddon Care Hub - with Samantha Hauge - CEO FCAV at the National Care Conference last week.

Nominations now open!!

Instances of great foster carer support by workers and staff at Agency, ACCO and Department level are golden in a complex system. They can make or break a positive placement for foster carers and the children and young people in their homes. Therefore, these awards give foster carers the opportunity to acknowledge an instance of receiving great support.

Submissions will be selected by our Care Advocates based on exemplary support to carers' day to day, or, exceptional support in exceptional circumstances.

Submissions close at 5pm on the 20th August 2024.

All nominating foster carers will go into the draw and be randomly selected to win one of three $50 vouchers just for making a nomination. Worker award winners will be announced at the FCAV AGM on 13th September 2024.

Submit your Nomination here: https://bit.ly/4fpzyL2

Carers have rounded out Day 2 of the NKFP Care Conference with a Gala dinner in honour of their incredible role and dedication to children and young people in their care.