Raising children can be challenging at the best of times. A new resource hub aims to help. Photo: globalmoments.
Carers ACT has launched a new resource hub to support foster and kinship carers in the city.
The online hub has tools, trauma-informed information, self-advocacy guides and training modules to help those in the community engaged in foster care.
Carers ACT CEO Cain Beckett said the new tools reflected the organisation’s commitment to the unique challenges that faced carers.
“Kinship and foster carers are the backbone of our out-of-home care system. This hub recognises their dedication and ensures they have the support they need at their fingertips,” he said.
The new hub has resources for both new and existing carers to try to make the process easier to navigate before, during and after fostering.
For those new to the system, a 123-page Carers Handbook has been released to deal with things such as available support services, a checklist for the first week looking after a new charge and advice on dealing with trauma.
For those with fostering experience, the hub includes guides for self-care, how to improve the health and happiness of your charge and how to deal with your own grief.
“By equipping carers with the right tools and information, including space to focus on their well-being, we’re helping build more sustainable and supported care environments for children and young people,” Mr Beckett said.
“It also reflects the formal recognition of kinship and foster carers under the ACT Carers Strategy and the ACT Carers Recognition Act – important frameworks that ensure carers are seen, heard, and supported.”
The hub was developed in collaboration between Carers ACT as well as carers, child professionals, community organisations and the Community Services Directorate.
The Carers’ Handbook acknowledges that childcare is a constantly evolving situation and it encourages carers to lean on their community for support and to use the available services.
Mr Beckett said the hub would be a continuing project and had been designed to grow and improve over time based on the work of carers.
“This is not a static site, we’ve designed it to grow and evolve with the needs of our carer community,” he said.
“Carers ACT will continue to update the hub with new tools, insights, and resources and we invite kinship and foster carers to help shape its future.”
Visit the ACT Carers resource hub.
