The Power to Kids Scholarship

We’re thrilled to announce Residential Care Learning and Development Strategy (RCLDS) is now offering an exciting funding opportunity – Power to Kids helps residential care organisations in Victoria strengthen their efforts to protect children and young people from harmful sexual behaviours, exploitation, and dating violence.

Why Power to Kids Matters

The Power to Kids program, developed by MacKillop Family Services and the University of Melbourne, focuses on creating safer environments for vulnerable children in out-of-home care. The program, which was highlighted in the 2021 Commission for Children and Young People’s Out of Sight Report, serves as a model of best practice, equipping residential care staff with the knowledge and tools necessary to prevent, identify, and respond to child sexual exploitation (CSE) and harmful sexual behaviour (HSB). The program also addresses dating violence, helping children and young people develop healthy relationship skills and stay safe.

Despite representing only 5% of all children in care, those in residential settings account for a staggering 33% of child sexual exploitation reports to child protection in Australia.

Power to Kids provides targeted solutions to address this alarming statistic; it fosters a whole-house educational approach, focusing on early identification, prevention, and intervention to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children.

Power to Kids has demonstrated outcomes in delivering:

• Increased knowledge around harmful sexual behaviour, child sexual exploitation and dating violence.
• Improved capabilities to identify harmful sexual behaviour, child sexual exploitation and dating violence and to ensure advocacy, exit and support.
• Increased self-efficacy in having sexual health & safety conversations with children and young people.

The Scholarship Award

RCLDS is offering to fund up to 80% of an organisation’s training and implementation fee of the Power to Kids program, up to a maximum of $44,000, allowing residential care providers to upskill their entire workforce, from leadership to frontline staff, ensuring sustainable implementation of the Power to Kids program.

How to Apply

Victorian residential care providers are encouraged to express their interest by 30 October 2024 via this form.

Applications will be evaluated based on criteria like commitment to implementation, readiness for change, and the expected impact. Preference will be given to ACCOs and regional providers, though all eligible organisations are invited to apply.

Selected organisations will work closely with the Power to Kids team and RCLDS to develop and execute a tailored training and implementation plan. Organisations must be ready to launch the program in the 2024-2025 financial year.

Find out more about eligibility, program training overview and all other details, here.

Contact the team at powertokids@mackillop.org.au for more information.

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