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PCA Families support families joined through permanent care, kinship care and adoption. Our families are diverse but share a common goal. They aim to provide a safe, stable, nurturing and permanent home to the children in their care. They include grandparents, aunts, uncles and older siblings providing kinship care; families who were previously the child’s foster carers; couples who have struggling with fertility and have been through IVF; LGBTQI+ couples; single people; and people with altruistic motivations who provide a permanent home to children.
PCA Families believe strong parents and carers support stronger children and we support our families to achieve this in a range of ways. Access our flyer here to find out about the many ways in which we can support you.
Our Helpline team have considerable experience in the areas of education, grief and bereavement, mental health, family services and child protection.
This expertise enables the Helpline to provide immediate support while also connecting families with appropriate external supports.
Financial help to meet the additional needs of a child in your care. Eligible for families with a relevant Victorian order (12 months or more post-order) and in receipt of the DHHS care allowance can apply.
We understand how important it is for permanent care, including kinship care, and adoptive families to be able to connect with other families to share their experiences.
Find out more or access our Calendar of Events
We have collected articles and links that are relevant to both young people and parents of teens.
PCA Families is committed to the best interests of children. We believe in empowering children and supporting their voices to be heard. In line with our commitment to the rights of children, we also promote and uphold local and international declarations and charters of human rights related to children.
Playgroups offer parents and carers an opportunity to come together, share information and develop supportive networks, while the children have fun.
Local Councils and Maternal Health are a good place to start to find an appropriate supported playgroup (free). See here.
Playgroup Victoria also offer a location based directory of services here.
All Ways Playgroup also operates in Scoresby (1330 Ferntree Gully Road, Scoresby) the first Thursday of every month (10.00am-12.00pm) for adoptive and permanent care families. Contact Share at .
1st Thursday of every month, 10am - 12pm
1330 Ferntree gully Road, Scoresby
If you are thinking of setting up a playgroup in your area, PCA Families can support you to do so.
Early parenting centres (Canterbury, Noble Park and Footscray) are funded to provide additional intensive parenting support to build skills, capacity and confidence of Victorian families in caring for children up to 4 years of age, offering:
More information here.
Minfulness in Motion programs are martial arts based programs for children from 5-14, specifically designed to assist their personal growth. Classes blend skill development, personal observation and experiential learning in an environment that is fun, supportive and engaging. Training will help with mind body connection, improved fitness, a calmer mind, improved confidence and awareness.
There are two programs to choose from:
The Grasshopper program is designed for children aged 5 to 9 and develops skills for life through martial arts. It is taught in a fun and engaging style which is a blend of play based learning, skill acquisition and conversation.
The Mantis program is designed for young people aged 10 to 14 to enhance students' fitness and martial arts skill with the focus on the students' intention. Fun, games and personal growth are the focus of this group while developing a level of martial skill.
Classes are held in Preston More information here.
Other martial arts programs may similarly offer a warm and inviting atmosphere where children can develop incredible life skills like focus, discipline and respect. These programs are also widely associated with improving cognitive function, body strength and flexibility, skills that help with being school ready. Find martial arts programs in your area by searching online.
Using the metaphor of a tree as a framework, these workshops assist children and young people who have experienced adversity and trauma to explore, discuss and narrate the positive and challenging aspects of their lives. children are invited to explore connections with others and gain confidence, self-awareness, trust and a sense of belonging. Find tree of life workshops online at the Dulwich Centre or Relationships Australia.
The Therapeutic Life Story Work model was developed by Richard Rose and is an evidence based narrative model that has excellent outcomes for traumatised children, young people and adults. Find a TLSW practitioner on the international website here or link in with an Australian practitioner here.
Offerig emotionally intelligent evidence based parenting for kids wellbeing with specialised programs for kids, teens and even for Dads as parents too. Find a parenting group or an online group here.
In our experience, young people and families often require support as they struggle with life events and transitions during the teenage years. Young people have typically experienced trauma, grief, loss, attachment issues, abuse and/or neglect, which can have life-long effects. It can be a challenging period marked by major transitions such as finishing school, starting TAFE or tertiary studies, finding a job and leaving home.So what supports might help teens?
Headspace is a health promotion charity offering a resource for teens where they can get help or advice with mental health, alcohol and otherdrugs, work or study or generally navigating life. Access Headspace here.
Australia wide mental health services contacts for teens here.
Offering a helpline, support centres, forums and online programs like Bite Back (resilience), BRAVE (anxiety) and MoodGym (emotions and coping skills) here.
Free support and connection for people with recurring, persistent or complex mental health issues and trauma, and for their families, friends and communities.
Online, anonymous and confidential and designed exclusively to support young people with their mental health challenges. Peer support one on one or in a moderated community, tips, stories and resources
During this transition young people often rely on their families to provide guidance as well as a financial and emotional safety net. Very few young people are ready for full independence at the age of 18 and in reality, it is much closer to the age of 24 (or older). This is especially true for our families formed through permanent care, kinship care and adoption due to the impact of trauma, grief, loss, attachment issues, abuse and/or neglect. This is also a time when the combination of adolescence, identity and family complexities can place added strain on a family. Families may require support to prevent placement breakdown during this time. In the adolescent years many young people grapple with the question ‘who am I?’ and this can be especially challenging for children not living with their birth parents.
There are a range of supports and services available to young people up to the age of 21.
Find out more about the leaving care services here.
There are many supports for continuing with education and training, TAFE and university or job and skill programs. Find out more here.
The Better Futures and Home Stretch programs can help you transition from care to independence. Better Futures provides flexible and tailored support including information, advice and funding. HomeStretch means you can stay with your kinship, foster or permanent carer until you turn 21 years of age if your carer agrees. Your carer can get an allowance to help support you or if you are moving from care to independent living, you can get an allowance to help you with housing costs like rent and bills. Find out more about the Better Futures and Home Stretch programs here.
Families may seek parenting assistance around their young persons’ and family’s needs related to, for example:
Support provided as early as possible provides a protective measure against future challenges.
Training courses are subject to demand and may include:
Offering a free evidence-based parenting program designed to help you raise your teenager with confidence, reducing the risk of anxiety and depression. Find out more here. Also available is the updated Education program, for parents of children who are experiencing school refusal. Find out more here.
Offerig emotionally intelligent evidence based parenting for kids wellbeing with specialised programs for parents of kids, teens and for Dads of teens too. Find a parenting group or an online group here.
Resourceful teenagers have better coping skills. With a focus on positive parenting, behaviour management strategies, teaching new skills and raising confident, capable teens, this research based parenting program is a toolbox of strategies, skills, and knowledge. It can help you create a closer bond with your child as you support their learning, development, life skills and emotional wellbeing.
Find out more here.
The Circle of Security Parenting™ program is based on decades of research about how secure parent-child relationships can be supported and strengthened. The program helps parents to understand childrens emotional worlds and needs, how to manage and develop self esteem and security. Relationships Australia offer a variety of courses regionally here.
Information, parenting education and individual and group based support is commonly available through local councils and services . Find out more about regional services here.
A variety of websites offer online resources to assist with parenting decisions and capability:
