New eSafety resources

The eSafety commission  has published a suite of new resources to help guide conversations with children about online safety.
Talking regularly and openly with children about what they’re doing online, how it makes them feel and who they’re connecting with is one of the most effective ways to help protect them.
eSafety also hosts webinars to give parents and carers the knowledge, skills and tools to support their children to have safe online experiences.
In addition, eSafety has a number of programs to support older Australians wanting to increase their online knowledge and computer/smartphone skills, including how to spot scams and download useful apps.

KCV endorses a steady as she goes approach through NDIS reforms

Conversations about the NDIS are always important – never more so than in this era of reform. Carers in Victoria can be reassured that the system of support currently offered to carers of children within the NDIS will continue to be supported by the combination of agency assessment and support as well as system support. DFFH has assured KCV that there will be no alterations to the current model or level of support offered. Carers should be reassured that the DFFH will continue, through employment of the Disability Practice Advisors, to lift the standards of advice and support offered.

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.

https://www.change.org/p/end-physical-punishment-of-children-protect-australian-children

With guest Dr Emma Goodall, Director of the Office for Autism from the South Australian Department of the Premier and Cabinet.

She is the parent of an autistic adult, and has worked extensively in the area of autism, education, research and public policy, and teacher training. Dr Goodall defines autism and neurodiversity, explains how autism can present differently in different genders, and outlines key things carers need to understand about neurodivergence in order to better support the children and young people in their care.

Dr Goodall was one of the most popular speakers at the national kinship, permanent and foster carers conference held in Melbourne in August. She kindly agreed to make this podcast, which draws on the main messages shared in her address to the conference. KCV hopes that Dr Goodall will return to Melbourne before too long.

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.

At the national kinship, permanent and foster care conference in Melbourne in August KCV had many requests about supports available in other states.  Many of the current KCV resources do reference national programs already. However, it was decided to create a reference point specifically related to national resources so that interstate carers can more easily find them. One of the most important resources is that which outlines the Centrelink payments for which all carers across the country are able to apply.  Even informal carers can be eligible for many of these payments.

We wish all interstate carers the very best.

Cheers,

Anne McLeish

Director