Latest News & Information

Vale Miralde

The Board of GPV/KCV is saddened at the death of one of its recently retired Board members – Miralde Crankshaw.

As well as being a valued member of the GPV/KCV Board, Miralde was a much valued child and maternal health nurse to many babies and their families.

Latest learning and development for carers

New seminar series for kinship carers

Navigating Difficult Conversations – advocating, boundaries and conversations that matter 

Register via the links below for the session you wish to attend or

contact KCV to register by phone /email or text: 

Dandenong Navigating Difficult Conversations – 20 August 2025 – Carer Kafe     

Box Hill Navigating Difficult Conversations – 22 October 2025 – Carer Kafe

Melton Navigating Difficult Conversations – 18 March 2026 – Carer Kafe

Epping  Navigating Difficult Conversations – 22 April 2026 – Carer Kafe

Latest news

More assistance for carers and children

For a long time now GPV/KCV has called for financial assistance for kinship carers that will assist with travel costs for children in their care. Therefore, we congratulate the Victorian Government for making the cost of public transport free for all children under 18 years of age. Whilst this assistance does not come into force until 1 January 1 2026, it is nevertheless most welcome.

Anne McLeish

Director

More news

– $320 million to deliver free public transport for under 18s, making public transport free for kids and teens. Every day. Saving families up to $755 per child, beginning 1 January 2026. And also from 1 January 2026, free statewide weekend public transport for Victorian seniors aged 60 and over that are holding a Victorian senior card.

– Increased payments via the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF). The fund helps around 200,000 kids in families holding a health care or concession card, every year. Annual payments will increase from $154 for primary school students and $256 for secondary school students to $400 from 1 January 2026.

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Latest resources

Financial support for kinship carers resource - updated

The KCV Finance for Kinship Carers book has been updated.

The update includes information about the new carer allowance levels for 2025-26, with the increased rates reflecting the new indexed rate of 2.5%.

Click here to access the booklet on the KCV website
Podcasts

New rules governing the CIMS

Although this podcast is not a brand-new podcast for KCV it is still very relevant and important that kinship carers listen to it and are reminded to return to it if required.

KCV Director Anne McLeish encourages kinship carers to listen to the podcast, note where to find it to be able to easily refer back to it if required and says any carer can have a CIMS allegation levelled against them, so it is critical that carers take the time to understand the CIMS process.

In this podcast Lawyer Fleur Ward outlines the changes/updates to the new DFFH CIMS policy and what implications this has for kinship carers.

CIMS policy and guidelines 2024
Listen to CIMS podcast
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Latest video

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.

View the video

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.

Sign the Petition
Contact KCV on 0499 969 234
Contact KCV on 0499 969 234

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Call 0499 969 234 or email admin@kinshipcarersvictoria.org