Satellite Foundation is a not-for-profit that connects and empowers children and young people who have a family member living with mental health challenges.

This may also include young people in families experiencing challenges with substance use, family conflict or violence, complex trauma, or other adverse life circumstances.

According to a recent report from the Commissioner for Children and Young people (Vic.) in 2023 children in out-of-home care were being expelled at five times the rate of other children and only a quarter were progressing from year 10 to year 12. The Commissioner made 47 recommendations to address the issue and says that the government’s reaction has been unsatisfactory.

GPV/KCV calls on parents and carers to support the Commissioner and her report by calling the office of the Minister for Education Ben Carroll MP to register support for urgent implementation of its recommendations.

Ministerial Office (03) 9651 1233 or Electorate Office (03) 9379 5879.

Regards

Anne McLeish

Director GPV/KCV

Evidence indicates that physical punishment can lead to increased anxiety or depression in adulthood, and the likelihood of people engaging in violence in later life.
There are alternative effective discipline practices that don’t involve physical punishment. These evidence-based practices can help increase children’s understanding of why they are being helped to recognise that certain behaviours are not desirable.
Sixty-six countries have legislated against the use of physical punishment on children and a further 27 countries have committed to doing so. Why is Australia not one of them? 

In this podcast we speak with Professor Daryl Higgins, director of the Institute of Child Protection Studies at Australian Catholic University (ACU) and member of Ending Physical Punishment of Australian Children (EPPAC) advocacy campaign.

As loneliness comes into the spotlight it is important that we all do whatever we can to redress it, not only for our own sakes but also for those close to us and in our community.  KCV endorses this paper issued by Relationships Australia and urges you to read and share it about.

Cheers

Anne McLeish

A new video from GPV/KCV on positive discipline

GPV/KCV is pleased to launch its video on positive discipline.  It is a feature in the GPV/KCV campaign to ensure that physical punishment of children is made illegal across Australia.

The video is a reminder that positive discipline can work and should be viewed in conjunction with reading written materials on positive discipline.

Non-physical types of discipline for children and young people (booklet)
Reasons not to hit children (article)
Physical punishment in Australia (video)

GPV/KCV commends signing the petition to have physical punishment made illegal across Australia.

This guide has been developed by KCV in response to previous nutrition seminars.

The articles in this magazine have been selected to reflect the conversations that took place at those seminars.

KCV congratulates the Care Support Help Desks on clearing a backlog of requests for Medicare cards and birth certificates for children in kinship care.

The Care Support Help Desk provides support for children in Foster, Kinship or Residential care by:

• applying for vital documents for children in care, including Medicare details and birth certificates

• establishing a link with their My Health Record, where appropriate

• recording and updating immunisations

• preparing letters to Centrelink to enable carers to access financial supports

• preparing letters to access Additional Child Care Subsidy, including before and after school care

• assisting with queries about care allowance payment

• recording school and childcare enrolments.

The Care Support Help Desk is primarily for new carers. However, the phone line and email is also available to existing carers if they need help with obtaining vital documents or support.