WHO CARES ...
An educational resource for
Aboriginal foster carers & kinship carers
In an emergency
Call 000
Contacts
Child Protection After Hours Emergency Service, call 13 12 78
This is an emergency service from 5 pm to 8.45 am, Monday to Friday, including 24 hours a day on weekends and public holidays. This service has responsibility for children or young people in need of a child protection service response after hours, where a child and young person is in a situation that cannot safely be left until the next working day.
Kids Helpline, call 1800 55 1800
Kids Helpline [https://kidshelpline.com.au/] is Australia’s only free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week phone and online counselling service for young people aged five to 25.
Lifeline, call 13 11 14
Lifeline is a confidential telephone crisis support service that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from a landline, payphone or mobile. Anyone across Australia experiencing personal crisis or thinking about suicide can contact Lifeline. Regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation, trained volunteers are ready to listen, provide support and give referrals.
Maternal and Child Health Line, call 13 22 29
This is a 24 hours a day, seven days a week state-wide telephone service that supports the maternal and child health service, and is available to Victorian families with children from birth to school age.
NURSE-ON-CALL, call 1300 60 60 24
NURSE-ON-CALL is a phone service that provides immediate, expert health advice from a registered nurse, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The cost is a local call from anywhere in Victoria (calls from mobile phones may be charged at a higher rate). For more information, visit www2.health.vic.gov.au/primary-and-community-health/primary-care/nurse-on-call.
Suicide Helpline Victoria, call 1300 651 251
Suicide Helpline is a free, professional, anonymous support line, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week across Victoria.
Victorian Poisons Information Centre, call 13 11 26
The poisons centre provides advice about what to do if a person has been poisoned, has overdosed, has made a mistake with medication dosage, been exposed to a toxic substance, or been bitten or stung by a venomous animal or insect.
References
Sincere thanks to
Dept of Health and Human Services VIC,
for referencing material used throughout the creation of this program.
www.services.dhhs.vic.gov/foster-care
Kind
-
Magabala Books [https://www.magabala.com/] has a great range of Aboriginal books, including many for children and young people
-
Reconciliation Action Plans [https://www.reconciliation.org.au/]
-
The Koorie Heritage Trust [http://koorieheritagetrust.com.au/] has a gallery, bookshop and gift shop, and they provide cultural education in Melbourne.
-
Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) [http://koorieheritagetrust.com.au/] have a range of resources, including the Caring for an Aboriginal child in out of home care resource, a VACCA Koorie teddy bear, diary and Koorie learning posters, available for purchase
-
Yarn Strong Sista [http://www.yarnstrongsista.com/] has a good range of early childhood toys, puzzles and books
-
-
Caring for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children [https://www.vacca.org/product/caring-for-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-children-in-out-of-home-care/] in out-of-home care.
-
Child developmental trends and trauma table, check the website.
-
Best interests case practice – the best interest case practice model provides guidance on how trauma can affect development, and suggests some useful ways of working with children and forming attachments. Go to the Department of Health and Human Services website at [https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/]
-
Child development and trauma – for more information, download the Child development and trauma guide at Department of Health and Human Services website at [https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/]
-
Victorian Aboriginal Health Services [http://www.vahs.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/KooriParenting_POSTER_Blue-2.pdf].
-
Caring for an Aboriginal child [http://www.vacca.org/shop/] in out of home care resource – developed by VACCA
-
Cultural training for carers through your agency or local Aboriginal community controlled organisations.
-
Growing up our way: Child rearing practices matrix available through Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC) [http://www.snaicc.org.au/product/growing-up-our-way-child-rearing-practices-matrix/] bgyuv7
-
Child Trauma Academy [http://www.childtraumaacademy.com/cost_of_caring/]
-
CREATE – the national body creating a better life for children and young people in the care system, call 1800 655 105 or CREATE [http://create.org.au/]
-
Foster Care Association of Victoria [https://www.fcav.org.au/], or call 03 9416 4292
-
Kinship Carers Victoria – Victoria’s peak body for kinship carers, call 03 9372 2422.
Permanent Care and Adoptive Families, call 03 9020 1833 or email Permanent Care and Adoptive Families [info@pcafamilies.org.au]
