Network Forums
Our Network Forums provide a space for members to explore critical ideas for a dynamic and resilient child and family services sector.
Last updated: 17 Dec 2024
Driving meaningful progress and transformative changes
The Centre’s Network Forums offer a platform for members to raise, discuss, and advance strategic, long-term issues crucial for building a resilient and sustainable child and family services sector. These Forums cover a range of topics tailored to a diverse range of professionals across the sector, focusing on specialised areas of expertise to drive meaningful progress and transformative changes.
The Kinship Care Network
The Kinship Care Network invites those working in an organisation delivering kinship care programs, a service that supports the delivery of kinship care, such as therapeutic services, or an academic involved in kinship care-related research. Bringing you together with your peers and representatives from the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing and Kinship Care Victoria, you’ll have the opportunity to:
- come together and stay informed amidst sectoral shifts
- share experiences, good practice and innovation in kinship care
- discuss local area service provision with the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing’s Kinship Engagement Managers
- hear presentations, participate in discussions on a range of topics and contribute to an agreed process for the priority of themes
- network with peers and key stakeholders
- participate in initiatives to advocate for kinship care
- listen to the voice of carers through peak body representation
The Quality Learning Circle Network
The Quality Learning Circle brings together community service organisation staff and Department of Families, Fairness and Housing representatives to:
- discuss sector changes
- engage in conversation with the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing around quality and compliance
- hear presentations and contribute to discussions
- network with peers
- provide updates and share information emerging from the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing Quality Reference Group
- participate in strategic discussions about the role of compliance in the sector
- explore opportunities for quality and compliance information and resource sharing
The Therapeutic Residential Care (TRC) Collective
The Therapeutic Residential Care (TRC) Collective offers Therapeutic Specialists in residential care a supportive space for professional development and collaboration; practitioners connect, exchange best practices, and gain tools to enhance their work.
The TRC Collective addresses isolation among practitioners by creating a community for sharing challenges and experiences unique to therapeutic care. Through collaboration, members can strengthen their impact and contribute to statewide improvements in care for young people.
The Rainbow Tick Network
Rainbow Tick Network provides a space for community service organisation staff involved in preparing to meet Rainbow Tick accreditation standards to:
- come together and share ideas and resources
- discuss compliance and explore ideas for fostering cultural change
- build peer networks for support
- share updates and continue to work toward embedding inclusivity policies and culture into mainstream service
The Foster Care Network
Bringing together representatives from the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing and the Foster Care Association of Victoria with organisations delivering foster care programs, a service that supports the delivery of foster care, such as therapeutic services, or an academic involved in foster care related research, The Foster Care Network provides opportunities to:
- come together and stay informed amidst sectoral shifts
- share experiences, good practice and innovation in foster care
- discuss service provision with the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing and
- receive updates on the Fostering Connections project
- hear presentations and participate in discussions on a range of topics
- network with peers
- Hear the voice of carers through peak body representation
The Leaving Care and Post Care Network
Welcoming those who work with young people who are preparing to leave care or have left care, Leaving Care and Post Care Network provides opportunities to:
- come together and stay informed amidst sectoral shifts
- share experiences, good practice and innovation to better support young people leaving care
- hear presentations and participate in discussions on a range of topics
- network with peers
The Integrated Family Services, Child First and Orange Door Network
The Integrated Family Services, Child First and Orange Door Network is open to all organisations delivering related programs in Victoria and Tasmania and offers an opportunity to:
- come together and stay informed amidst sectoral shifts
- share experiences, good practice and innovation in family services work
- engage with the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
- hear presentations and participate in discussions on a range of topics
- network with peers
- participate in initiatives to advocate for family services
The Early Years Participation Network
The Early Years Participation Network is a statewide, multidisciplinary group committed to improving children’s access to and participation in early years services and supports through the development of collaborative, cross-sector partnerships. The Network brings together Child and Family Service professionals, Child and Family Health Nurses, Early Years professionals, Playgroup facilitators, Allied Health professionals and more, providing:
- supports connection and collaboration for diverse professionals
- sector updates and professional development opportunities
- evidence on the barriers to, and enablers of, kindergarten access and participation to our colleagues in the Department of Education Victoria