Carer Kafe
Strengthening Victorian foster and kinship carers through free learning opportunities.
Last updated: 24 Dec 2024
Vision and purpose
Carer Kafe provides free online and in-person training, events, and resources designed specifically for Victorian foster and kinship carers.
Guided by trauma-informed and culturally sensitive approaches, the program aims to empower carers at every stage of their journey, equipping them with practical tools and knowledge to better support children and young people in their care.
With diverse learning opportunities tailored to unique needs, Carer Kafe creates a collaborative, supportive environment where carers can grow their skills and share experiences, helping build stronger, more resilient families.
Carer Kafe's Online Learning and Resources Library
The Carer Kafe Online Learning and Resources Library offers a selection of free resources and training tailored for Victorian foster, kinship, and permanent carers, including pre-recorded webinars, podcasts, and curated links to essential information from peak organisations, covering topics like trauma-informed care, managing challenging behaviours, and enhancing resilience.
History
Carer Kafe is funded by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing to provide learning and development opportunities to statutory kinship carers, accredited foster carers and permanent carers across Victoria.
The Centre, the Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency (VACCA) and Kinship Carers Victoria (KCV) have come together to form a consortium to guide and deliver the program. Each member of the consortium provides distinctive expertise and knowledge.
Kinship Care Network
The bi-monthly Kinship Care Network, hosted by the Centre in collaboration with Kinship Care Victoria, brings together representatives from 28 funded service providers across the state. The partnership harnesses place-based expertise and practice insights to enhance capacity and foster alignment within the kinship care sector.
The Network plays a pivotal role in driving change by enabling the frontline workforce to collaborate with peers and government, contribute to implementing key reforms, advocate for policy changes, and stay informed about the latest research and practices shaping the kinship care landscape.
