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FCAV's Deb Collard is joined by carers Vanessa and Stephen to discuss the features of a good care team, including roles, expectations and communication. Care teams should ensure that all members put the child or young person’s best interests first and allow everyone the opportunity to contribute to plans and decision-making.

FCAV's Deb Collard is joined by kinship carer Elisa in a webinar aimed at helping us all understand more about being a good ally for LGBTIQ+ youth. They discussed how to provide a safe and accepting environment and help young people in care feel connected and understood.

A permanent care conversion from foster or kinship care is a process you might be asked to consider if you have had a child or young person in your care for a number of years. Permanent care is for the life of the child and requires careful thinking about the responsibilities and tasks you are being asked to consider. FCAV Project Coordinator Deb Collard talks about what a permanent care conversion involves, including some of the legal requirements to be considered for permanent care. Deb talked to carer Vanessa who is currently going through this process, looked at the assessment and training undertaken by prospective permanent carers, and explores available supports post legalisation.

Foster Care Association of Victoria (FCAV) in partnership with Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) held a webinar on culture.

We heard from Aunty Eva Jo Edwards, a proud Boonwurrung, Mutti Mutti and Yorta Yorta woman and a survivor of the Stolen Generation, who yarned with us about the impact of being removed from her family when she was only 5 years old. Eva Jo’s story demonstrates both the strength and power of culture and her determination to break the cycle of trauma and disconnection.

We also heard from Emma Bamblett, a proud Wemba Wemba woman, born in Echuca, an artist and the state wide Coordinator of Aboriginal culture at VACCA. Emma explains how acknowledging Aboriginal culture helps to build resilience in our children and young people, which also helps to preserve history and close the gap for future generations.

Deb Collard from FCAV asks how carers of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children and young people can support their connection to culture, community and identity.

We hosted our first webinar on “Self-care” in March.  Presenters Tessa Hughes (CISS Manager and Meditation Teacher) & Deb Collard (CISS Coordinator and ICare2 Trainer) explained what self-care is and why it’s important as a foster carer, provided practical tips and a 10 minute meditation!

We hosted our second webinar on Grief and Loss in May. Foster carers deal with grief in many forms: the grief of the child in their care, of the parent whose child they are caring for, their own grief and that of other family members as the foster child moves on to the next stage of their life. Deb Collard (CISS Coordinator and ICare2 Trainer) was joined by foster carer Patricia to discuss her experience of grief and loss as a carer, as well as discussing the impact, signs and symptoms of grief on all parties and strategies for managing grief and finding help were provided

We hosted our third webinar on the new Client Incident Management System (CIMS) which has replaced the Quality of Care Process. A CIMS incident is an event that has a direct impact upon a child or young person in out of home care and the incident is assessed as having either a major impact or a non-major impact upon the child or young person. The new CIMS involves a 5 step end to end process that focuses on the safety and wellbeing of clients. Presenter Deb Collard was joined by Amy Mackenzie from OzChild to discuss the process and things that are vital for you to know as a carer.